Kudos issue 22 by Kudos Kent

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lifestyle magazine for Kent and East Sussex

Issue 22

KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

Hello Welcome to the May/June issue of Kudos.

I went to my first auction about a year ago and it was a revelation. Beautiful antique pieces rubbed shoulders with old china and toys, mahogany furniture and rolled-up carpets shared space with Ikea bookcases and tatty sun loungers. There were real gems to be found and I came away with a tiled Victorian washstand (£65), two framed pictures (£10 each) and a pretty side table (£20). All absolute bargains and in excellent condition. It was also an enjoyable experience, watching the bidding and seeing how much the different items went for. Another source of unusual bargains is the reclamation yards. Back in the days when recycling was a dirty word, a few enterprising families started gathering other people’s discarded building materials and selling them on to like-minded individuals. These days it’s called architectural salvage and everyone’s at it. I love poking around these yards – a couple of stone lions and an urn in our garden were bought from one. So in this issue, we’ve been looking at upcycling, recycling and auctions as ways of turning something old into something new, or giving a new lease of life to once-loved items. See the feature on page 58. Did you know that the number of vegans in Britain has risen by more than 360 per cent over the past decade, making it one of Britain’s fastest growing lifestyle movements. We take an in-depth look at what it means to be a vegan, and share some delicious recipes, proving that you can still eat well. If you want to try some healthy vegan food, new Tunbridge Wells restaurant The Plant Base, run by Geff Stone, is the place to go. I can personally vouch for Mocha balls!

Entertainment is on the cards, too, in this issue. We meet Bruce Guthrie, director of the ground-breaking rock musical Rent, which comes to the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells at the end of May, and David Walliams, whose Gangsta Granny is at the theatre in June. And don’t miss the fantastic Alfresco Festival at Colebrook Lakes, Tunbridge Wells, from 26th-28th May. The festival will involve at least six stages of incredible music, an array of street foods and bars and a huge family arena. More on page 14. See you there!

Hannah Tucek Publishing Director

Twitter: kudoskent www.kudoskent.co.uk

Contents

Managing Director: Robin Tucek Publishing Director: Hannah Tucek Editorial Director: Ann Wallace Creative Director: Neil Constant Fashion Editor: Sally-Ann Carroll Photographer: Matt Harquail

8 Kudos loves...

Advertising Sales:

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10 News & events 20 Pets corner 23 Love celebrity 30 Love fashion 38 Love health & beauty

Kudos is published bi-monthly by:

40 Men only 44 Love being vegan

While every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers, authors and printers cannot accept liability for errors or omissions. All rights reserved. Prices and details correct at time of going to press. No part of this publication may be produced in any form without the written permission of the copyright holder and publisher, application for which should be made to the publisher. Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

WELCOME TO KUDOS

54 Love food and drink 59 Love home

76 Love garden

94 Love business

82 Love education

96 Love charity

88 Love family

98 Love heroes KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

Gorse in bloom,

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Ashdown Forest

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5pm

Taken by Matt Harquail

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Things we love this issue From a green internet search engine to a double decker café

Green credentials

Google has the lion’s share of the global internet search market, and is likely your top choice when it comes to finding things online. But switch to Ecosia and you could be helping to make the earth green with every query – this philanthropic search engine uses its ad revenue to plant trees, so far planting close to seven million thanks to the efforts of three million active users. It looks and works almost exactly like Google, meaning you don’t need to get to grips with a totally new interface, but you know that you’re contributing to green projects in Peru, Madagascar, Burkina Faso and Indonesia. Plus, you’ll even be able to see exactly how many newly-planted trees your internet activity has racked up. Ecosia is just one easy way to make a positive impact on the planet. www.ecosia.org

All aboard!

Head to St Leonards, Hastings, and enjoy a meal with a difference on a famous double-decker bus

BBC TV’s Last of the Summer Wine is an institution. Anyone over a certain age (let’s not be too exact on that!) will have loved watching the hugely-popular programme. So you’ll be thrilled to know that if you head to St Leonards, Hastings, you’ll find a very familiar face in the form of the bright red double-decker bus that starred in the series. Once its days on screen were over, a new journey began for the bus as a unique dining destination. It was bought and renovated in 2012 by the 1066 Bakery, a local family-run bakery, who were careful to retain many of its original features. Says Darren Trevett, “The ground floor has been completely kitted out with a full kitchen so we can offer everything from full English breakfasts and freshly-ground coffee to sandwiches, burgers and salads. “Situated next door to our award-winning bakery, you can be sure of the freshest ingredients. We are passionate about using the best Sussex has to offer and work with many small local businesses to offer free-range eggs, locally-sourced salads, our handmade Sussex burgers and sausages and not forgetting our very own freshly-baked bread and cakes, made next door in the bakery. To top off this unique experience, we now have our great Double Decker Towers play area, so you can chill out while the kids let off some steam.” You can board the bus Monday-Thursday 8am-2.30pm; Friday 7.30am-2.30pm; Saturday 8.30am-1.30pm; and Sunday 9.30am-1.30pm. www.doubledeckercafe.co.uk 8

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Calling all dog lovers!

Could you be a host family and provide a home from home for dogs while their owners are away? Could you provide a home from home for dogs while their owners are away on holiday or business? Animals at Home, the national petcare company, is looking for local dog boarding host families to do just that. Host families are part of a petcare service that is professionally recognised and recommended by vets, dog clubs, groomers, trainers and re-homing organisations – as well as many satisfied customers – as the perfect alternative to kennels or pet sitting. And host families can earn between £70 and £140 per week. Food, bedding and equipment is provided – you just provide a nice home for the pets without the full-time responsibility – and get paid! If you don’t have any children under the age of eight, have a fully-enclosed garden and will not leave the pets for longer than four hours at any time, then you could be the perfect host family. If this is a service that you would enjoy being a part of and you live within 10 miles of Tonbridge, contact Tony Ellison on 07926 100349 or email: info@twand7oaks.animalsathome.co.uk www.animalsathome.co.uk

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Upfront What’s new and happening

The only way is Essex

Tunbridge Wells author sets her first novel in 1950’s Essex Local author Sue Wilsher, who lives in Tunbridge Wells with her husband and two children, has released her debut novel, When My Ship Comes In, a gritty, emotional drama set in 1950’s Essex. The story was inspired by the local history of South Essex where Sue grew up, near a shoe factory and the Thames Estuary. The shoe factory housed its workers, including Sue’s grandparents and mother, and the factory town ethos, described as somewhere between a holiday camp and a prison camp, sparked Sue’s imagination. Everything was laid on for the workers, but what if someone didn’t toe the line, didn’t fit in? Another strong theme of the book is the plight of workingclass women in Fifties Britain and their very defined expectations at the time. It took a tenacious character to rebel against society’s strict codes of conduct. When My Ship Comes In has been described as ‘an eyeopening reality check for a new generation of women for whom such limited options in life are now, in the main, just

a part of history... a must-read for all women’s fiction fans, and for book clubs and discussion groups everywhere’. Sue’s second novel, due to be released this year, is also set in 1950’s Essex.

Never too late

Top cycling qualification and a new career at 54 When Ian Marks bought his electric bike at Cycling Made Easy two years ago, little did he know that he would soon switch careers and become a full-time mechanic at the Tunbridge Wells store. Proving that age is no barrier to learning new skills, Ian, 54, recently undertook specialist training to achieve Cytech grade 2 certification in cycle repair and maintenance – the cycle industry’s most trusted qualification. Ian was first introduced to electric bicycles after purchasing one for his wife who required extra assistance for her very hilly commute to work and back. Seeing the enjoyment and benefits she experienced, Ian decided to get one for himself. After spending time in the Coulsdon branch, he became friendly with the Cycling Made Easy team and was invited to the launch of the Tunbridge Wells store on St Johns Road 18 months ago. He has since joined the team and converted many more customers (and his own family) to the joy of e-bikes. Cycling Made Easy’s Director, Ray Wookey, said: “Ian came to us as a customer looking for an electric pedal bike for his wife. Soon after, he bought one for himself, then his brother bought one, and now his son has one, too. That’s how infectious his enthusiasm for cycling has become. We invited him to come 10

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along to a few of our special events, and he was so knowledgeable and helpful to other customers that we employed him.” Ian said: “Getting this qualification shows that it’s never too late to do anything. I love speaking to customers who often say it’s been decades since they last cycled, but with e-bikes it doesn’t matter. What matters is that people call in to our stores and try an e-bike for themselves. They will be pleasantly surprised with how easy it is to get back into cycling again.” KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

Out and about with Kudos

For thrill-seekers

For tennis fans

For music lovers

The world’s biggest inflatable obstacle course returns to Kent with gigantic ball pits, climbing wall and labyrinth, a 5,000-square-foot inflatable moon, and super-sized slides – including the biggest inflatable slide in Europe which has a foam party finish! There will be 10 obstacle courses, including new ones like ‘Jump’, where you brave a 4m vertical drop. Elsewhere, runners will have the time of their lives trying to get across the huge ‘Rock n’ Roll Star’ and will come up against a real gauntlet of an obstacle in ‘Danger Zone’. You can complete the course as an individual or as a team. You can also run for the national charity partner, BBC Children in Need. Catch it at Brands Hatch, West Kingsdown, on Saturday 3rd June.

Men’s tennis will be rejoining the women’s for the first time in three years. Devonshire Park will play host to an array of world class male and female players, including British No 1 and World No 10 Johanna Konta, who will be returning to her home town to play this summer. Konta said, “Playing at Devonshire Park is very special. I can’t wait to get back on the courts, just a stone’s throw from my family home in Eastbourne. With the men coming back, this year will no doubt add extra excitement. I’m sure the fans will enjoy lots of world-class tennis.” Families can enjoy a free day of tennis on Friday 23rd June during the qualifying weekend. Kids also go free on the 24th and 25th June, whilst adult tickets are just £5. Catch it at Devonshire Park from 23rd June until 1st July.

Legendary rock band 10cc lead an impressive line-up of musical talent at Gig for Life, a one-day music event for 10,000 people, raising money for Cancer Research UK. Also headlining is Maverick Sabre, the edgy, soul singer, rapper and Brit Award nominee, along with alternative rockers Toploader and Americana group Los Pacaminos, featuring Paul Young, and local music talent. Event Director David Rivers said: “I’m absolutely thrilled 10cc is headlining Gig for Life. Their music, like the festival, is all about having fun together. We’ve got a stonking good line-up which covers all musical tastes. It’s a family festival with something for everyone and we hope it will create some wonderful memories.” Catch it at the Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, on 27th May.

Gung-Ho! inflatable obstacle course

www.begung-ho.co.uk

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Aegon International, Eastbourne

www.lta.org.uk

Gig for Life

www.thehopfarm.co.uk/events/gig-for-life

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All the fun of the festival

Alfresco returns to Tunbridge Wells over the late May Bank Holiday Alfresco Festival returns for a second year in it’s stunning home of Colebrook Lakes, Tunbridge Wells. This beautiful piece of the Kent countryside will host at least six stages of incredible music, an array of the finest street foods and bars and a huge family arena. The brainchild of Mark Davis and Nicky Chanot, this is the family-friendly festival with a bit of a twist. Musically noncompromising, it has a line-up that includes legends of dance music and electronica alongside the best in current underground music. After 2016’s huge success, the festival has been expanded to include two more outdoor stages to provide more diversity in sounds. Whether you’re out in ‘The Woods’ or the Big Top Tents, you’ll enjoy the very best in Balearic, Disco, Acid House, Electronica, Funk, Hip Hop, House and Reggae. Acts include Boiler Room favourites Gerd Jansen, Optimo and Sadar Bahar, alongside true icons such as Wolfgang Flür, formerly of electronic pioneers Kraftwerk, Paul Daley, once of Leftfield, and Boys Own legend Terry Farley. Other highlights will be Paranoid London performing live after recent shows alongside The Chemical Brothers, Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor’s amazing Prince tribute, The Crazy P Soundsytem, Justin Robertson and Psychemagik... the list goes on. Alfresco Festival, though, caters for parents and families equally as much as the young clubbers of today. With an absolutely huge arena full of entertainers, shows, stalls and fun and games, little people are always kept happy. The main stage is situated within this area so parents can enjoy great music whilst being close to their children as they play and explore. The highlight of last year was the full-size Roller Disco, and it’s back again alongside bubble magicians, arts & crafts workshops and the incredible Groove

Image credit: Mariana Bassani

School hosting DJ classes and its own mini club and disco. Classics such as face painters, children’s theatre and story telling, nature trails, kid’s cinema club and sports and games will all be back and yes, definitely a big yes, to the straw bales! Also, many of the activities are free so this is very much family friendly on the pocket, too. 2017’s Alfresco Festival will also see many other new additions including a fantastic wellbeing area. The street food stalls and bars have increased with an incredible variety of world food and classic British cuisine. The bars will be at every stage, including a new main bar in the central area that this year will sell draught lagers, ales and locally-brewed ciders. Indeed, our recent addition to our Festival sponsors is the Hackney-based award-winning Five Points Brewing Company, so the bars will be stocked with the finest crafts ales and beers. With regular camping and quite beautiful glamping options available, the Alfresco festival truly caters for all you weekend revellers, plus the local hotels are plentiful and close bat Colebrook Lakes, Tunbridge Wells from 26th to 29th May. www.alfrescofestival.co.uk

Guitar greats

A feast of music for the Frant Summer Guitar Festival The London-based Alexander/Robinson Duo of two guitar virtuosos will present music from the repertoire of Django Reinhardt, Wes Montgomery, Tom Jobim, Pat Metheny and more at Frant Church on Friday 2nd June. Tickets: £15. John Williams, John Etheridge and Gary Ryan – the world’s finest guitarists – will also be in Frant Church for one glorious night on Friday, 30th June. Tickets: £20. The Remi Harris Trio – an exciting young guitarist from the UK – will perform there on Saturday, 1st July. Tickets: £14. All concerts start at 8 pm, (doors open at 7.30 pm), and there is a licensed bar area. Tickets are available from Frant Stores, Britten’s Music in Tunbridge Wells, online at www.wegottickets.com or by calling 01892 864304/07768 115184. John Etheridge, photo credit Doreen Pallier

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Musical greats

Russell Watson and Rick Wakeman part of Rye festival line-up Singing sensation Russell Watson will be performing a very special outdoor summer picnic concert on 9th July at Tonbridge Castle as part of the Rye International Jazz & Blues Festival. Hot on the heels of a highly-successful sold-out UK concert tour, Watson, known as the People’s Tenor, is credited with being the UK’s best-selling classical artist and will be performing his favourite music and songs from his latest album True Stories, along with hits from his expansive back catalogue of award-winning albums. Since being described by the New York Times as a performer “who sings like Pavarotti and entertains the audience like Sinatra”, he subsequently released 10 studio albums, each one receiving more critical acclaim than the last, and has sold over seven million albums. Russell held the number one spot in the USA for his debut album The Voice, making him the first British male singer to hold the accolade of a simultaneous transatlantic number one. www.ryejazz.com The Rye International Jazz & Blues Festival also presents a very special solo piano concert with the legendary Rick Wakeman. Initially inspired by the unprecedented reaction to his performance of David Bowie’s Life On Mars on BBC Radio 2 in early 2016, Piano Portraits features instrumental versions of hits Rick originally performed on, (Space Oddity, Morning Has Broken and Wondrous Stories), as well as music specifically chosen for their wonderful melodies, including Stairway To Heaven, Help and Eleanor Rigby. He has also added a selection of some of his favourite classical pieces. During his show, Rick will be performing much of the music from Piano Portraits as well as other popular choices from his piano show repertoire, all interspersed with hilarious anecdotes about his colourful life. Catch him at Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, on Sunday, 4th June. www.marlowetheatre.com

Music at the manor

Young artists perform at beautiful Glynde Place The yearly Glynde Place Concert Series continues to go from strength to strength, with 2017 bringing more exciting BBC New Generation artists to this beautiful Elizabethan manor house near Lewes. On Sunday afternoon, May 14th at 4pm, the young English mezzo-soprano, Kathryn Rudge, one of the most exciting recent graduates from the Royal Northern College of Music, will give a song recital of works by Schubert, Tosti and Elgar. On Saturday, June 24th at 7pm, the brilliant 23-year-old concert pianist Beatrice Rana, one of Italy’s rising musical stars, will play one of the the greatest solo keyboard works, Bach’s Goldberg Variations. She recently reached No 1 in the UK Classical Chart. Nowegian viola player, Eivind Holtsmark Ringstad, will give a recital with piano accompanist Daniel Lebhardt on Saturday 29th July at 7pm. Among his many awards, he was named Eurovision Young Musician in 2012. www.glyndeplace.co.uk

Something old...

Chiddingstone Castle Summer Vintage Fair Returning for its third year, browse, shop and delight in the variety of traders selling a full spectrum of vintage wares, from furniture and decorative items to vintage clothes and jewellery. Listen to the splendid vocals of Miss Vintage, join in the dancing with the Cinque Ports Lindy Hoppers and be amazed by the magical genius of Tony Charles, along with delicious refreshments from local food specialists. Entry to the fair is £5 per adult, £1 per child (5-13) and under 5s are free. Catch it at Chiddingstone Castle from 11am to 4.30pm on Sunday, 25th June. www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

Vicar’s picnic by the river Yalding festival headlines top acts

Russell Watson

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Vicar’s Picnic celebrates its fourth year as a fully-fledged multiday family festival on the banks of the river Medway, in Yalding, on 14th and 15th July. In line with previous years, headliners will be internationallyrenowned artists – past acts have included multi-platinum legends Reef, Cast and Mark Morris of the Bluetones. Vicar’s Picnic also likes to give emerging local artists a helping hand up the ladder with a platform to perform to a wider audience, and has been a showcase for the likes of The Standard Lamps (touring with the Who) and Youth (touring with Slaves). Vicar’s Picnic – so named because of its origins in a garden off Vicarage Road in Yalding – started out as a garden party for villagers who had missed out on tickets to Glastonbury. It has expanded from a one-day gig to a two-day festival with camping, two music stages, a children’s play area and a poetry and comedy tent. www.vicarspicnic.co.uk KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

For nature lovers

Enjoy a day out with Kent Wildlife There are events for all the family at Kent Wildlife Trust visitor centres during May and June, with plenty of ways to connect to nature. You can get outdoors on a walk with the warden, take part in a bushcraft day or join a creative printing, photography or garden workshop. Improve photography skills using your iPhone at Bough Beech visitor centre near Ide Hill on 20th May or Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve on 17th June. Award-winning photographer Sarah Medway will give advice on how to use the different features on your phone camera, followed by a wildlife walk taking images from nature. Adults £25/children (aged 12-16) only £15. Those green fingered amongst you can learn lots of tips on how to make your garden more wildlife friendly with Maureen Rainey, Wild about Gardens advisor. Workshops are on 13th May in Sevenoaks or 10th June at Tyland Barn Maidstone. Tickets cost £20 and include a tour around example gardens and pond features. Fancy something a little more wild? Join a Forest School leader and experience a variety of woodland skills including den building and fire lighting on a bushcraft session at Bough Beech on 30th May or Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve on 1st June.

iPhone Photography Workshop However if you’re feeling creative why not have a go at mono printing with Elaine Thompson on 6th May at Sevenoaks and produce your own piece of artwork, and children will love turning recycled plastic bottles, bags and wire into unique birds and bugs on 31st May at Tyland Barn, prices start from £6. The Gallery at Tyland Barn within the visitor centre offers a selection of work for sale including cards, prints and originals. Work ranges from watercolour or silkscreen printing to photography and felting. Each month The Gallery showcases a different local artist who has been inspired by nature and wildlife. Come and visit and be inspired too! Booking is essential for most events as places are often limited. To book online or for more information about events or The Gallery at Tyland Barn go to kentwildlifetrust.org.uk

That’s entertainment Latest releases on screen

Alien: Covenant In cinemas 12th May

The latest chapter in the iconic sci-fi horror franchise, Alien: Covenant chronicles the voyage of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a distant planet, whose crew makes a terrible discovery. They’re undertaking the first large-scale colonisation mission, and their new world was supposed to be a paradise. But in reality, it’s a hell: as the crew discover threats and creatures more horrific than they can imagine, their quest for a new home quickly turns into a desperate attempt to escape. Ridley Scott continues the groundbreaking saga with Alien: Covenant, bringing one of cinema’s most legendary monsters back to terrify us once again.

Wonder Woman In cinemas 2nd June

Diana is princess of the Amazons, a race of women living in isolation. And when the Great War comes to their island, Diana takes up the mantle of Wonder Woman. Sworn to defend the world, she leaves her home with dashing American pilot Steve Trevor to fight in the War and try to bring it to an end. But even the princess of a race of warriors can’t be prepared for the horrors waiting for her in the trenches. All the world is waiting for Wonder Woman, an eagerlyanticipated superhero epic that brings the origin story of comics’ greatest heroine to life.

Despicable Me 3 In cinemas 30th June

Gru and the Minions are back in Despicable Me 3, and they’re meeting a new (if slightly familiar) face: Gru’s identical twin brother Dru. Well, almost identical – Dru has hair. He’s successful, handsome and incredibly wealthy, and fixated on his family’s legacy of being supervillains. He wants Gru’s help, but Gru has left the life of crime behind. Just maybe, though, the promise of one last heist might be too much to resist… The smash hit franchise returns with Despicable Me 3, with Steve Carell once again providing the voice of Gru. And this time, he’s Dru too. KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

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Pets corner

It’s time to turn the spotlight on your best friends!

Rehoming corner

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home Brands Hatch, Kent, is looking for a rural home for one of their long-stay dogs

Sniffer dogs join the fight

Born Free Foundation commends vital role of police dogs in the fight against the trade in illegal ivory Legendary actress and wildlife champion, Virginia McKenna OBE, congratulated newly-qualified Metropolitan Police Dog handlers and their dogs, as they graduated from the Training Establishment in Keston, Kent. Virginia was keen to see firsthand how the Metropolitan Police is piloting new training techniques to crack down on the illegal wildlife trade. Born Free had assisted the Dog Training Establishment by helping them source ivory and rhino horn samples which have been used in the training. The hope is that the speciallytrained sniffer dogs will provide the police with the ability to enforce the law by detecting and seizing trafficked wildlife products and bringing perpetrators to justice. Virginia founded international wildlife charity Born Free Foundation with husband Bill Travers and son Will, after starring in the 1966 film Born Free. She said: “Just sometimes you meet people who inspire you. This happened to me today. To watch the graduate dog handlers and their relationship with their dogs was extraordinary. The mutual affection was tangible and their success in catching criminals is well documented.” Born Free’s Associate Director Mark Jones explained: “Wildlife trafficking is devastating literally hundreds of species, from elephants, rhinos and tigers to less well-known but equally important animals such as pangolins, reptiles and amphibians. The training of sniffer dogs to detect illegal wildlife products in London is a real step forward, and has already enabled the Metropolitan police to seize a stash of illegal ivory.”

Meet Honey

Honey is an eight-year-old Jack Russell Terrier cross Chihuahua, who has been at Battersea Brands Hatch for two whole years, watching her kennelmates find new homes. So, the staff at the world-famous rescue centre decided to mark her 730-day anniversary by throwing her a little party, although for Honey, it’s bittersweet. Little Honey has the enthusiasm of a Jack Russell Terrier and the sensitive side of a Chihuahua. She’s easily overwhelmed and can become quite anxious in new environments. Staff at Battersea Brands Hatch know a different side to her, however, as Honey can be a little bundle of fun and full of energy, showing her true Jack Russell traits. New owners will need to be patient with Honey and let her take the lead when she’s feeling uncomfortable. She needs someone who’s willing to take their time getting to know her and understand why she lacks confidence at times. With a bit of time and TLC, Honey will come out of her shell and show her owners the true meaning of love and affection. Could you give Honey a home? Anna Hemmings, Centre Manager at Battersea Brands Hatch, said: “Honey has spent two long years with us at Brands Hatch. As lovely as it is seeing her every day and seeing the improvement from the specialised training we provide her, we all just really want Honey to go to a good home. “She is very sweet with a bit of an anxious side, but we all know once she’s comfortable in her environment, she can be very lively and energetic! Ideally, she’s looking for someone who lives in a quiet rural area where she has the freedom to roam around in peace.” For more information on Honey, please contact bbh.rehomers@battersea.org.uk

Email a photograph and details of your pet to editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk 20

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How to be a responsible dog owner A well-behaved dog – and owner – are the perfect combination

If you own a dog, you owe it to them and yourself to make sure he’s happy, healthy and well behaved.

Safe and healthy

In April last year it became compulsory for owners to ensure their dog is microchipped and their details are kept up to date, which means the UK’s 8.5 million dogs can be returned to their owners more quickly if they wander too far from home. It also makes it easier to track down the owners of dogs that carry out attacks on people. In the UK, the Control of Dogs Order 1992 states that any dog in a public place must wear a collar with the name and address (including postcode) of the owner engraved or written on it, or engraved on a tag. Your telephone number is optional, but recommended. It’s also sensible to insure your pet. Veterinary treatments can be expensive and everyone wants to keep their dog healthy, well into old age. Keep your dog at a healthy weight, by making sure you feed them the appropriate amount of food for their size and ideal weight. One of the easiest ways for a dog to put on weight is if you feed him treats – those crusts from a piece of toast, half of your biscuit or the leftovers from dinner. It may seem cruel to deny your dog the food that they’re begging for, but letting your dog get obese is more cruel since it compromises their health and well-being. If your dog is overweight, ask your vet to recommend a diet to help them get back in shape.

Pick it up!

Never leave the house without a pocket full of poo bags, preferably biodegradable, and always pick up after your dog. Dispose of your dog’s waste in the proper manner – that doesn’t mean hanging the bag from a handy tree, as is often the case! Besides being considerate to others, cleaning up waste helps prevent the spread of disease.

Sit!

Obedience training and socialisation classes can help ensure that your dog is a well-mannered pet. Getting your dog used to new experiences, places, other animals and people is very important in order to prevent your dog being frightened of them in the future. Start as soon as your puppy has had his vaccinations and your vet says he can go to public areas. Get him out and about and meeting people and other dogs in safe environments – this is the best way to raise a happy, friendly dog that you can take anywhere. You should start training your new dog or puppy as soon as he has settled into his new home – whatever his age. Using rewards in training will help your dog to link good behaviour with something nice, and encourage him to behave well again and again!

Walkies!

Your dog needs daily exercise for the sake of their health and well-being. Play with them, and take them for at least one walk a day to ensure they’re getting enough physical and mental stimulation. KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

A bored and unstimulated dog can become destructive, anxious, or even aggressive. You can prevent your dog getting too bored at home by leaving ‘challenges’ for him such as hiding treats or Kong toys filled with food and encouraging him to use his nose to find them. When you take your dog for walks, use games or toys to exercise him further. If your dog is really energetic, why not find an agility or flyball club to make full use of his mental and physical energy. Collared has a range of collars, leads and accessories, Kong toys and natural treats for your dog. Visit their stores in Tunbridge Wells, Hastings and Canterbury. www.collareddog.co.uk

Granny

knows best David Walliams talks about the stage version of his book Gangsta Granny, and why Roald Dahl is his hero

When actor, writer and comedian David Walliams was a boy, he used to sit captivated at the knees of his two grandmas as they spun him tales of their lives. The youngster was amazed at how dramatic and exciting their experiences of the Second World War had been. Decades later, when the adult David was a successful author, he decided to return to those days of his childhood and recreate that special bond between children and their grandmothers. His best-selling novel, Gangsta Granny, was the result. Published in 2011, it went straight to number one in the children’s book charts and has gone on to be the most successful of all his novels so far. The hugely-acclaimed Birmingham Stage Company have recently launched the first-ever stage version of this book and it’s touring the UK until summer, having had great four-star reviews from the national press. “How to entertain a thousand deafening under-10-year-olds for two hours? The answer is this cracker of a show, brilliantly adapted and directed, which comes with a smashing cast. Great fun.” **** The Mail on Sunday “Kids adore David Walliams’ books and they loved this show…It has an infectious exuberance that answers the writing’s zest and theatricality… Every comic opportunity is grasped…Fascinating…and outrageous!... something tells me the cast will still be having a ball this time next year.” **** The Daily Telegraph Gangsta Granny opens with Ben having to visit his boring old grandma, which he does every Friday night while his parents go ballroom dancing – and it’s always an ordeal of cabbage soup and Scrabble. Then, one day, he finds a tin filled with diamonds and gems which leads to the amazing discovery that his granny was once an international jewel thief! Persuaded by Ben, they decide to take on the biggest heist ever – to steal the Crown Jewels – and the adventure of their lifetimes begins. While David’s own grannies were no mobsters, he admits that he did take a touch of inspiration from them. “When I was a child, I would spend lots of time with my grandmas,” he says. “Sometimes I would selfishly think spending time with them could be boring but when I got them on a subject like living in London during the Second World War, when bombs were raining down, they would become very animated and I would be enthralled. I realised everyone has a story to tell.”

Words: Diane Parkes KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

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David even added cheeky elements of their characters to his Gangsta Granny. “There was definitely a smell of cabbages in one of my grandmas’ houses,” he admits. “The other did break wind like a duck quacking when she walked across the room.” But they were also greatly loved – just as there is a special bond between Ben and his gran. “I think grandparents love being grandparents because they get to give the children back to the parents,” says David. “Children love spending time with their grandparents because they love hearing their stories and being allowed to stay up past their bedtime.” Born in Surrey, David studied drama at Bristol University before joining with Matt Lucas to create the television show Little Britain. Initially a radio show, Little Britain became a television sensation, gaining a host of awards including three BAFTAs and being screened in more than 100 countries. The duo went on to tour with Little Britain Live, which was seen by more than a million people in the UK, Ireland and Australia. So as a well-known actor, why did David decide to try his hand at fiction? “Ten years ago, I had an idea for a story,” he recalls. “What if a boy went to school dressed as a girl? I thought it would be a thoughtprovoking children’s book. That became The Boy in the Dress, my first of eight children’s novels.” Those novels, including Ratburger, Demon Dentist, Mr Stink and Billionaire Boy, have all been hugely successful, topping charts and winning a host of awards. David now has more than six million book sales to his name, with his stories translated into 40 languages. 24

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Awful Auntie was the fastest-selling hardback of 2014 and went on to win the National Book Awards for Children’s Book of the Year and Audiobook of the Year. Writing for children is a real passion for him. “The only limitation in a children’s book is your imagination. You can take children on magical journeys in books that many adults would be reluctant to go on,” he says. “Children love to be scared, but it can’t be too horrifying. Children love to laugh, but it can’t be too rude. You always have to be the right side of the line.” David has frequently been compared to Roald Dahl, his own childhood writing hero. “I think Dahl’s books always feel a little bit forbidden. He manages to balance the humour and scary elements in his stories perfectly. My favourite is The Twits, which is utterly hilarious and I love that it is a children’s book with no child characters.” David was also a fan of American writer Dr Seuss. “I loved Dr Seuss books as a child, especially Green Eggs and Ham. His books are like nightmares come to life. They are rich and strange and utterly unlike anybody else’s work.” Keen to ensure his own novels prove to be just as memorable for children, 45-year-old David believes his popularity is down to the fact his books are laced with humour and never patronise youngsters. “I deal with quite big topics – cross-dressing, homelessness, grief etc,” he says. “I know children are a lot smarter than most grown-ups think.” Two years after it was published, the BBC made a film version KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

You can take children on magical journeys in books that many adults would be reluctant to go on of Gangsta Granny, which was shown as part of its Christmas schedule. With Reece Buttery as Ben and Julia McKenzie as Granny, its star-studded cast also included Joanna Lumley, Rob Brydon, Robbie Williams, Miranda Hart as Ben’s mum and David Walliams as his dad. After the success of the TV film, it seemed only natural that Gangsta Granny should become a stage show. David was approached by the Birmingham Stage Company, whose string of Roald Dahl adaptations including James and the Giant Peach and George’s Marvellous Medicine made it an obvious contender and when David saw their West End production of Horrible Histories – Barmy Britain, the deal was sealed. “Their Horrible Histories show was superb. I loved the humour and the interaction with the audience. Productions for children need to be fun and fast-paced. Children like audience interaction, too. They like to be involved. “It’s a huge thrill seeing Gangsta Granny have this whole new life on the stage. There is lots of action, especially when they try to steal the Crown Jewels. The challenge was bringing those scenes to life. But I think its a fantastic show, so much better than the book!” David loved watching some of his characters take shape. “I especially

like the characters of Ben’s mum and dad. They have an obsession with ballroom dancing which is very funny live on stage.” So, bearing in mind the obsession Ben’s parents have for ballroom, has David ever considered donning his rhinestones to enter Strictly Come Dancing? “I can’t dance at all – as you might have seen in the TV adaptation of Gangsta Granny when I tried to dance with Miranda Hart. So I would say my chances are less than zero,” he laughs. David is hoping BSC’s Gangsta Granny will be the perfect outing for families – and that a granny or two is in the audience. And, casting his mind back to his own childhood, he says that in all the craziness of Gangsta Granny, at its heart is a very special relationship. “The moral of the story is ‘don’t assume old people are boring just because they are old’,” he says. “In fact they are likely to have had a much more interesting life than yours. Talk to old folk, listen to their stories. They are bound to be full of magic and wonder.” Gangsta Granny is at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, Wednesday 21st June to Sunday 25th June. www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk / Box office: 01892 530613 @ahttw AssemblyHallTheatre

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Bruce Guthrie: “It is such a privilege to have been trusted with this piece”

As the legendary, multi-award-winning rock musical Rent comes to Tunbridge Wells, we talk to director Bruce Guthrie about the challenges of creating a new version of this landmark show

In 1996, an original rock musical by a little-known composer opened on Broadway… and forever changed the landscape of American theatre. Inspired by Puccini’s classic opera La Bohème, Rent was conceived and composed by Jonathan Larson. It follows an unforgettable year in the lives of seven artists struggling to follow their dreams without selling out, while living under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. With its inspiring message of joy and hope in the face of fear, this timeless celebration of friendship and creativity reminds us that the only thing that truly matters is love. Poignantly, Larson died of an undiagnosed aortic aneurysm at the age of 36, on the eve of the show’s first downtown preview. Now Scottish director Bruce Guthrie from Stirling has created a stunning new version of this show. He talks about his love of theatre and the challenges in bringing fresh ideas to a muchloved musical

When did your interest in the theatre start?

When I was nine years old, my mother took me to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Edinburgh Playhouse. I was hooked from then on. I loved the theatricality, the music and the feeling it gave me. From there, I appeared in school productions and with my local youth theatre group. I was lucky to be coached for drama school by our youth theatre director. She took time out of her life to coach lots of young performers who now work in the profession. It’s remarkable how many people from such a small area of Scotland are now working up and down the country and in the West End. Directing was something that happened in my third year of training at Guildford School of Acting. My housemate threw a play at me. He said he wanted to play the lead and I should direct because I was good at organising.

You trained as an actor. How do you think this has influenced your directing style?

Having been on stage has helped me to understand a bit about the challenges an actor faces. It’s a tough job. There is a misconception that acting is all parties and glamour. Actors are some of the bravest people I know. You have to be willing to sacrifice a little piece of yourself with every performance. You have to be tireless in your pursuit of the most truthful way to portray a character and constantly work to serve the writer KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

Images: Matt Crockett

and your fellow cast members. It’s an athletic event that requires emotional, physical and mental endurance of the highest standard for eight shows a week – this is particularly true for our production of Rent.

You were heralded as the new Sam Mendes after you got the job as associate director on Mendes’ Richard III, starring Kevin Spacey, in 2011. What did you learn from working with Sam Mendes?

While the comparison is flattering, there is only one Sam Mendes. He is a director who has shaped British theatre by founding the Donmar Warehouse and has managed to balance an extremely successful career as a director of theatre and major Hollywood films. I admire him greatly as a director and a person. Sam has great taste and style. He also understands actors and how to get the best out of them. He creates a great sense of company and his notes for actors are always accurate and nourishing. Sam puts the production before everything and doesn’t compromise on quality. I was also lucky enough to work with the late, great Howard Davies. Howard was someone who served writers better than any director I have ever known. He encouraged me to pursue this production of Rent. I have applied what I learnt from him in my approach to Jonathan Larson’s script. Always be respectful and pursue the truth of every moment. It is about unlocking the piece for the audience and not imposing on it.

Is it true that you had never seen a production of Rent before you started work on the production? Did this make it easier or harder for you? That is true. If I’d seen it on Broadway or another production, I might have felt like I’d seen the definitive production or I was copying ideas. Not having seen it means we are coming at

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it with a fresh approach. The creative team and the actors are responding to what Jonathan wrote and not what has gone before. The actors have been encouraged to create these characters from scratch, which has been liberating for them. There are choices that the writer has made and we don’t have to be different for the sake of being different. It is our job to tell the story in a truthful way. I wanted it to feel like New York City. We all researched the piece extensively. I went to New York several times to research the piece and to sit and absorb the atmosphere. I met many of Jonathan Larson’s friends, who took me on a tour of all the locations Rent is based on. We visited Jonathan’s old apartment, ate at his local restaurant, went to the support group featured in the show, walked down the street that Christmas Bells is set on. It was so useful to talk to people who were there when it was written and to learn how Jonathan drew upon his own life to create the show. The fact that these characters are based on real people adds a layer to the performances. There is a grounded quality. We are always respectful to the history of the show. It means a great deal to so many people, so there is a great weight of responsibility that I take very seriously.

What are the challenges of staging such a well-known work?

Expectation. It means so much to so many people. Many of our cast grew up dreaming of being in a production of Rent and now 28

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they are in this brand-new production, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the show. There are fans of the show around the world who want us to do well with it. Everything about creating a show like this takes time, care and tireless work from all involved. It is littered with opportunity. The whole cast are supremely talented and were encouraged to bring in as many ideas as possible. The question of whether it was relevant or not given it was set in the late 1980s and now that HIV and AIDS are no longer thought of in such a predominant way can be a challenge. But I think the piece is even more relevant to a UK audience now as we have much closer cultural and political ties with the United States than we did when the show first played in the West End. You also need a cast who are up to the challenge of giving so much of themselves over to the piece, physically and emotionally. It’s hard to go on that journey eight times a week. I couldn’t ask for a better group of performers. They blow me away on a daily basis.

How close to the original Jonathan Larson production did you want your production to be?

It is vital to serve the writer but as for how close it is to the original production, I have no idea as I have never seen it! I spoke with Jonathan’s father (Al) and his sister ( Julie). We talked through the whole piece on the phone and they have been incredibly supportive of this production. It is such a privilege to have been trusted with this piece. I wanted to make everything KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

about it feel authentic. We have made some decisions that keep the spirit of what Jonathan wrote. The writing is so good, we had to embrace the brilliance of the story and go from there.

And is the result exactly as you envisaged at the start, or did you make changes along the way? I’m delighted to say it’s better than I imagined. Creating a show is all about collaboration. The creative artist is the writer and the rest of us are there to interpret what they wrote. I had a vision for it, but it is not mine alone. We have the most brilliant creative team and cast who absolutely take ownership of this production. Everyone has brought so much to this show. They all feel invested in it as artists and that is as it should be. If you are going to embrace the bohemian style of creativity, Rent is the show to do it on.

What do you enjoy most about being a theatre director?

And what advice would you give to would-be theatre directors?

You learn by doing, so get together a group of dedicated, likeminded people and make it happen. Solve problems, don’t just identify them. If you get a chance to assist a great director, take it. Learn all you can and serve them in the way you would want to be served. Only direct productions you are utterly passionate about. Anything other than total dedication to a project is a waste of time. You have to lead by example and make sure you surround yourself with people who are just as passionate as you are.

What are your future plans? Any new projects on the horizon?

Yes, lots going on and coming up in the future. But I couldn’t possibly go into that yet!

Working with inspiring, talented people telling incredible stories for audiences who want to experience something that makes them feel alive. When that happens, there is no better job.

If you could direct one production, what would it be?

I have so many ideas for the future. I have loved directing a musical, so more of them in the future. I hope that Rent will be a part of my life for a long time to come.

Rent, The Musical is at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, from 23rd-27th May

Style

auty

& be Fashion, health

Colour your style Colouring books are the latest way to de-stress and restore calm. Add fashion to the mix and you’ve got the perfect combination

Fashion designer, Natasha Itzcovitz, has released her debut colouring book with 100 hand-drawn fashion illustrations to spark the imagination of every budding fashionista. Having graduated with a degree in Fashion Design, Natasha has created a world of crazy and wacky outfits that follow fashion through the ages, from Marie Antoinette and Jane Austen, to more contemporary boho chic and hipster street style. “Adult colouring books are so much fun and this is a great way for people to see my designs and ideas, some of which I’ve never had the chance to share,” explains Natasha, who, when she’s not drawing, sells her handmade clothes, accessories and artwork online and at markets. Similar to Iain R Webb’s Vogue Colouring Book, The Whimsical Fashion Colouring Book invites you to discover your inner fashionista and create fabulous outfits, no matter what your style. Published by Matador, £8.99

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m u r o F n o i h Fas

Clockwise from left: Bold Check Linen Dress, £169, Shimmer Linen Shirt, £139, Waffle Linen Shirt, £139, Capri Linen Shirt, £189, and Dot Weave Linen Camisole, £129.

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Clockwise from top left: Sahara Abstract Art Print Panel Dress, £149, Shimmer Linen Shirt Dress, £219, with Organza Linen Camisole, £69, and Lightweight Linen Slim Leg Trouser, £95, Papaya Linen Pocket Detail Dress, £149 (available soon), Crushed Linen Jacket, £145, with Organza Linen Camisole, £69, and Linen Slim Leg Trouser, £95, and Lava Print Jersey Top, £119.

SAHAR A KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

77 High Street, Tunbridge Wells www.saharalondon.com LOV E FASHION

All things bright and beautiful Even if the weather is dull, it’s all about colour for summer. To create maximum impact, break the rules and clash the shades. The latest looks have an upbeat vibe and are super cool says Fashion Editor, Sally-Ann Carroll

Above, left to right: Orange halter neck dress, £79, www.hobbs.co.uk; orange dress, £199, www.oui.com; pink stripe playsuit, £28, www.next.co.uk; and floral dress, £69, www.elvi.co.uk

Above, left to right: Blue lace trim camisole, £149, and pink and white stripe jumper, £176, both from www.airfield.at; and denim playsuit, £36, www.next.co.uk

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Above, left to right: Yellow necklace, £19, www.east.co.uk; stripe sandals, £98, www.jigsaw-online.com; white espadrilles, £45, www.next.co.uk; and straw bag, £35, www.east.co.uk

Simply stylish Add these staples to your summer wardrobe and dress them up or down with bold jewellery or simple accessories

Clockwise from top left: Black aztec sheer back blouse, £65, white bohemian cold shoulder top, £72, navy relaxed boyfriend shirt, £68, khaki cotton safari jumpsuit, £109, white sheer pleated blouse, £68.

GANDYS SU30 Royal Victoria Place,

Tunbridge Wells www.gandyslondon.com 36

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Summer bodies

Are your efforts to lose weight and get in shape starting to stall? Why not try one of the body contouring treatments at Illuminate Skin Clinic...

Many of us have been working hard on our fitness-focused resolutions during the winter and spring, but sometimes we need an extra boost. After all, our efforts now will determine how we will look when the holiday season arrives. Of course, even though we may work vigorously hard at the gym or participate in fitness classes three to four times a week, stubborn fat isn’t always that simple to shift. However, every problem has a solution. According to Doctor Sophie Shotter, owner of Illuminate Skin Clinic at Kings Hill, West Malling, there are a variety of result-driven treatments that could help you. Sophie explains: “We have a popular CoolSculpting Fat Freezing treatment that offers a fast, effective way to permanently eliminate stubborn pockets of fat from problem areas such as thighs, the tummy, the back and arms. As the name suggests, fat freezing (also known as cryolipolysis) works by freezing fat cells, causing them to die off and be eliminated naturally through the body’s own lymphatic system. This treatment is a great non-invasive alternative to liposuction and achieves visible results after just one session.” You can pay close attention to a healthy lifestyle by exercising and eating a well-balanced diet, yet that one pad of fat that troubles you will not disappear. Illuminate Skin Clinic also offers a popular treatment called Aqualyx, which is a simple, safe method that is minimally invasive and is scientifically proven to dissolve localised fat deposits on problem areas such as the chin, neck, jaw line, bra bulge, knee area, hips, saddle bags, thighs, stomach and more. We’d all like to have healthy-looking skin. “Now you can drink your way to healthier, better and younger-looking skin with the revolutionary Skinade supplement drink,” says Sophie. “Skinade is the only liquid food supplement recommended by KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons. It contains a unique blend of active ingredients which are essential for the skin’s hydration, radiance, elasticity, and to stimulate the production of collagen.” Whatever your aesthetic concerns, Illuminate Skin Clinic has a selection of suitable treatment options available. Find out more at their VIP Summer Body CoolSculpting event, where Doctor Sophie Shotter will be the lead speaker on all the treatments mentioned, and more of the treatments that are offered at Illuminate Skin Clinic. There will be special offers on the night. Summer Body Event at Hotel Du Vin, Tunbridge Wells on Thursday 11th May from 7pm. RSVP 01732 647007 / hello@illuminateskinclinic.co.uk

Injectables are available at Illuminate Skin Clinics, along with other treatments including Coolsculpting, vein treatments, skin rejuvination, non-surgical facelifts, chemical peels, threadlifting, microdermabrasion, clinical facials and treatments for men. There are Illuminate clinics in Kings Hill, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks. T: 01732 647007 www.illuminateskinclinic.co.uk

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Beauty notes Latest products and news Lip service

Pucker up to totally smooth lips with MAC Lip Scrubtious. This new, sugar-based exfoliator gently buffs away dry and flaky skin with a formula enhanced by hydrating and nourishing conditioners leaving lips soft and smoochable. Available in Candied Nectar, Fruit of Passion, Summer Berry, Sweet Brown Sugar and Sweet Vanilla. Price: £12.50

Love it! Walk the line

Just in time for summer’s hot and humid days and long nights, Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Waterproof Liner provides deep, fully-opaque coverage, promising all day wear when there’s no time for touch ups. The twist-up design, created for ultra-precise application, is perfect for getting ready on the go. A single, smudgeproof swipe can stand up to heat, humidity, sweat, and more – anything the day throws your way. Price: £24

Ultra mattes, shimmer pearls, cool chromes and edgy crèmes – that’s the recipe for Estée Lauder Pure Color Love, a collection of high-impact lipsticks in a kaleidoscope of vibrant shades and striking finishes. From brights and deeper tones to nudes and neutrals, the possibilities are infinite. Experiment by mixing and matching colours, fly solo with a single shade or layer up lip colours. Price: £19

Clean up

Tough on makeup, but gentle on skin, Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Long-Wear Makeup Remover Wipes effortlessly remove long-wearing and waterproof makeup. This portable pack of 45 luxuriously-soft wipes leaves skin instantly clean and revitalised without the need for water. Remove even the most stubborn makeup, whether travelling, at work, at the gym, or just at home in need of a speedy skin refresh. Price: £20 38

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Vitamin boost

Clinique’s Fresh Pressed Renewing Powder Cleanser with Pure Vitamin C is a simple way to reinvigorate your anti-ageing skincare routine. Just like your morning fresh-pressed juice or vitamin helps you stay healthy on the inside, this super-potent cleanser was designed as a daily supplement to visibly rejuvenate skin from the outside. Price: £24 KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

Kudos Tried & Tested

skinChemists Bee Venom Facial Serum skinChemists Bee Venom Facial Serum claims to smooth and revitalise your skin to give it a more even-toned, youthful-looking appearance, smoothing out the texture and reducing the appearance of fine lines. As well as the bee venom active ingredient, it also includes Tegocosmo C250 to blur age spots and imperfections, and manuka honey to deeply nourish and moisturise skin. You simply smooth a pea-sized drop of the serum onto your skin after cleansing morning and night. Our tester said that since using the serum, her skin does feel smoother and softer, and light age spots are fainter. She says sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll definitely keep using this product long term. Price: ÂŁ135

Men’s

dgets

Fashion and ga

It’s a man’s life If your summer wardrobe is in need of a refresh, Sally-Ann Carroll helps you swot up the new season in style

Clockwise from top left: Nautical classic breton t-shirt, £35, navy palm print t-shirt, £35, grey tile print vest, £30, and aztec lightweight windbreaker jacket, £95, all from www.gandyslondon.com; khaki shorts, £20, www.burton.co.uk; chino shorts, £25, www.debenhams.com

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Clockwise from top left: Aviator sunglasses, £16, www.riverisland.com; denim cap, £12, www.riverisland.com; blue watch, £129.99, www.stormlondon.com; blue suede loafer, £79, and brown suede espadrilles, £79, both from www.jonesbootmaker.com

Best foot forward

Freakloset is a new brand of premium Portuguese footwear that’s just arrived in the UK with a mission to reinvent classic, iconic and timeless footwear, making it fully customisable with vibrant colours and new materials. All Freakloset shoes are handmade, using luxurious leathers and fabrics. They can be fully customised in minutes thanks to the advanced 3D software that lets you choose different colours of leather, fabric, sole and laces, for a multitude of options that can be adapted to everyone’s style. www.freakloset.com

On the button

Flic, the smart wireless button that takes the hassle out of your day, can do everything from controlling your home automated devices, such as your lights, coffee machine or even your gates, to activating your music playlist, taking photos and triggering your stop watch. You can even use this little device to ping your location to friends, or as a speedy alternative to calling a cab or ordering a pizza. And in an emergency, Flic can be used as a distress button. It even helps to keep you safe on the road, controlling your music, texts and even starting your navigation system while you concentrate on the road. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, set up multiple buttons around the house – it can be attached to any surface no matter when and where you are, from your clothing to your bathroom wall or even your bike handle bars. Price: £31.99 www.thefowndry.com

Super supplements

Innermost has created a range of unique formulations to help achieve different lifestyle goals across four categories – Strong, Fit, Lean and Health. Each one has been crafted to support various stages of the fitness journey. If you are regularly working out or leading an active lifestyle, taking an additional protein supplement has been proven to help with recovery and general dayto-day health. Ingredients have been picked for the naturally-nutritious qualities they possess, such as Japanese medicinal mushrooms, pink Himalayan sea salt, bilberries, Montmorency cherries, cocomineral, turmeric and matcha green tea. Each ingredient plays a specific part in each blend, whether it’s to reduce fatigue, increase recovery time or to help burn fat, using balanced combinations of superfoods, sirtfoods, protein and naturally nutritious ingredients. GMO-free with no artificial flavours or colours, there are even vegan options. Price: £24 per 600g www.liveinnermost.com 42

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In the swing Ever fancied learning to play golf or want to improve your game? Then Knole Park is the place to do it

Budding golfers from six to 60 and beyond can learn golf, get some exercise and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Knole Park Golf Course in Sevenoaks. Junior Group coaching takes place every Saturday in the afternoon for kids between the ages of six and 16. The lessons include short game, putting, pitching, bunkers, woods, irons and on-course tuition. Equipment is supplied and jeans are allowed! So why not enrol your child now for the summer coaching for just £85 for 10 one-hour sessions. The Academy Membership is available to adult beginners and is a great introduction to golf. The membership includes 12 lessons, free use of the practice facilities, free use of the golf course seven days a week after 2.30pm and a £25 bar card. Private lessons are also available to everybody of all standards and Knole Park’s new practice facility provides an excellent experience and environment to learn or improve your game. There are two fully-qualified PGA instructors with many years of experience both teaching and playing the game at a high level. As a stockist of Callaway, Ping, Titleist and Taylor Made, Knole Park has large stocks of all their products and a wide selection of demonstration models of the latest equipment for you to try and be custom fitted for. To make this process as accurate as possible, they fit with a new Flightscope X2 Launch Monitor that uses radar technology to track the golf ball’s flight. The monitor then delivers accurate information on total distance, total carry, spin rates, ball speed, club head speed, launch angles, clubface angles and much more. This gives a comprehensive KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

analysis of your swing and capabilities, enabling you to be fitted with the right clubs. The shop is well stocked with the leading brands which cater for all abilities, at prices that are matched with the Internet and often better than the leading websites. As a TGi Golf Partner, which is one of the largest buying groups in Europe, you’ll find all your golfing needs under one roof. Knole Park’s aim is to help golfers of all abilities to have fun and enjoy getting better at this wonderful game. If you are interested and would like a tour of the golf club, visit www.knoleparkgolfclub.co.uk or call 01732 452150. LOV E GOLF

Could you be a vegan? It seems more and more of us can – and do – as veganism is one of Britain’s fastest-growing lifestyle movements

The number of vegans in Britain has risen by more than 360 per cent over the past decade, according to a survey that shows record numbers of people are avoiding food derived from animals. Some 542,000 people aged 15 or over – more than one per cent of the population – have adopted a plant-based diet, up from 150,000 in 2006. Which, say the Vegan Society, proves that veganism is now one of Britain’s “fastest-growing lifestyle movements”. A vegan diet excludes meat, seafood and dairy, as well other foods produced using animals, such as honey, and wines, beer and cider filtered using animal products. Veganism was once seen as an extreme, restrictive eating regime, but attitudes are changing. Many supermarkets now stock own-brand vegan products, and increasing numbers of high-street restaurants and cafés now offer vegan options. In March, Asda became the first supermarket to use the official Vegan Society trademark on its food. The supermarket giant has joined forces with The Vegan Society to give 16 items the official stamp of approval. They included tomato ketchup, vegetable soup, peanut butter, balsamic dressing and curry sauce. The trademark is designed to give customers extra authenticity and assurance when buying vegan products. Asda has followed in the footsteps of other high-profile companies such as Alpro, Lush, Original Source and Ikea in taking on the trademark, which can now be seen on 24,000 products spanning 800 companies in the UK.

So, what is veganism?

Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. From ‘junk food vegans’ to raw food vegans, and everything in between, one thing they all have in common is a plant-based diet avoiding all animal foods such as meat (including fish, shellfish

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and insects), dairy, eggs and honey – as well as products like leather and any tested on animals.

What do vegans eat?

A great deal! A vegan diet is richly diverse and comprises all kinds of fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, seeds, beans and pulses, all of which can be prepared in endless combinations.

It’s not just about diet

Vegans avoid exploiting animals for any purpose, with compassion being a key reason many choose a vegan lifestyle. From accessories and clothing to make-up and bathroom items, animal products and products tested on animals are found in more places than you might expect. Fortunately nowadays there are affordable and easily-sourced alternatives to just about everything.

Why go vegan? For animals

Preventing the exploitation of animals is not the only reason for becoming vegan, but for many it remains the key factor in their decision to go vegan and stay vegan. Having emotional attachments with animals may form part of that reason, while many believe that all sentient creatures have a right to life and freedom.

For health

More and more people are also turning to a vegan diet for the health benefits: increased energy, younger looking skin and eternal youth are just some of the claims from enthusiastic plant eaters! Eternal youth might be a bit optimistic, but there are certainly scientifically proven benefits to vegan living when compared to the average western diet. Well-planned plant-based diets are rich in protein, iron, calcium and other essential vitamins and minerals. The plant-based sources of these nutrients tend to be low in saturated fat, high in fibre and packed with

KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

antioxidants, helping mitigate some of the modern world’s biggest health issues like obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

For the environment

From recycling household rubbish to cycling to work, we’re all aware of ways to live a greener life. One of the most effective things an individual can do to lower their carbon footprint is to avoid all animal products. The production of meat and other animal products places a heavy burden on the environment – from crops and water required to feed the animals, to the transport and other processes involved from farm to fork. The vast amount of grain feed required for meat production is a significant contributor to deforestation, habitat loss and species extinction.

Try new things

Treat your taste buds to new foods and new flavours. Leaving your food comfort zone will take you on a voyage of discovery of new cuisines. There are thousands of vegan recipes out there from every corner of the globe. Whatever your culinary preference, you’ll encounter new dishes and interesting variations on your old favourites. Yet you don’t have to be an award-winning chef to achieve this. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the number of meals you can easily prepare from things already in your kitchen or local supermarket ingredients. For more information, visit www.vegansociety.com

For people

Just like veganism is the sustainable option when it comes to looking after our planet, plant-based living is also a more sustainable way of feeding the human family. A plant-based diet requires only one third of the land needed to support a meat and dairy diet. Avoiding animal products is not just one of the simplest ways an individual can reduce the strain on food as well as other resources, it’s the simplest way to take a stand against inefficient food systems which disproportionately affects the poorest people all over the world.

Why vegetarian isn’t enough

The suffering caused by the dairy and egg industry is possibly less well publicised than the plight of factory-farmed animals. The production of dairy products necessitates the death of countless male calves that are of no use to the dairy farmer, as well as the premature death of cows slaughtered when their milk production decreases. Similarly, in the egg industry, even ‘ethical’ or ‘free range’ eggs involve the killing of the ‘unnecessary’ male chicks when just a day old.

How to go vegan

Keep your end goal in mind, but go at your own pace. Some people manage to go vegan overnight and many need more time. Like any other lifestyle change, going vegan not only takes getting used to, but it takes time to determine what will work best for you. It’s not a one-size-fits-all experience and there are numerous approaches you can take. Making small changes to your everyday meals is one of the easiest ways to increase the amount of plant-based foods in your diet. You could start by removing meat or dairy one day a week and go from there. Or you could try changing one meal at a time, having vegan breakfasts during your first week, adding a vegan lunch during week two and so on. You could even try changing one product at a time by swapping cow’s milk for almond or soya milk or butter for coconut oil or margarine. There’s a plant-based alternative for almost every type of food you can think of, so you don’t have to miss out on your favourite foods.

Do it right

Make sure you don’t miss out on essential nutrients. Just because you’re vegan that doesn’t mean you’re 100% healthy, as there are vegan versions of almost every type of junk food you can think of. As long as you eat a wide variety of tasty plant foods, planning a healthy diet that incorporates all the vitamins and nutrients you need will be a breeze. KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

Celebrity vegans Liam Hemsworth

Liam decided to make the switch to veganism in early 2015 after he learned about the mistreatment of animals. “The more I was aware of, the harder and harder it was to do,” he told Men’s Fitness, of eating meat.

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez says that going vegan has given her lots of energy. “It makes you feel so much better.”

Tobey Maguire

He shunned animal produce in favour of a vegan lifestyle in 2009.

Joaquin Phoenix

The Oscar-nominated actor was born in Puerto Rico to ecoconscious parents (his siblings were all given names like River, Rain and Summer, and Joaquin changed his name from Leaf) who raised their family as vegans. Joaquin was offered several big commercial breaks in adverts for meat and milk products when he started his career, but turned them down. He’s still a vegan, and an ambassador for animal cruelty prevention charity, PETA.

Casey Affleck

Casey Affleck, married to Joaquin’s sister Summer, is a keen animal rights campaigner and vegan.

Woody Harrelson

The Hunger Games star Woody Harrelson is not only a vegan, but also an advocate of the raw food diet.

Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding says, “I went vegan a few months ago. I feel leaner and healthier.”

David Haye

Boxer David Haye cut animal products from his diet in 2014. He’s now a passionate convert to veganism, and keen to promote it as not just a viable path for professional athletes, but the most effective one too.

LOV E BEING V EGAN

Kudos goes vegan Well, sort of! We give our verdict on four milk alternatives Alpro Coconut Original

Alpro Soya Light

Alpro Roasted Almond Unsweetened

Alpro Cashew Original

20kcal/0.9g fat per 100ml Colour: grey hint This was the favourite of our Editorial Director and Publishing Director as a drink on its own – but not one to add to tea or coffee. It’s quite sweet and the coconut is not too strong. You could even describe it as refreshing. It would be great in cocktails and curries!

13kcal/1.1g fat per 100ml Colour: creamy This was the least favourite in the office – it is definitely an acquired taste. You can taste the almonds but there is no sweetness or creaminess, despite its colour. The plus is that there is nil sugar. The minus is that it tastes like cardboard!

27kcal/1.2g fat per 100ml Colour: grey hint For our Publishing Director, this was the best option to add to tea and coffee. It has a slight sweetness and creaminess that coats your mouth but is not too strong. There is almost a hint of vanilla. In fact, Hannah liked it so much that she has switched her morning coffee and milk to coffee with soya light!

23kcal/1.1g fat per 100ml Colour: white This was our Creative Director’s favourite and our Editorial Director’s second favourite. It’s creamy with a definite nutty taste but not quite as sweet as Coconut Original and Soya Light.

The good life Geff Stone, owner of a new, healthy restaurant in Tunbridge Wells, talks about his journey to veganism

Geff Stone became a vegan three years ago and its principles are behind his new restaurant, The Plant Base, in Tunbridge Wells. He says: “The Plant Base is a vegan restaurant but it isn’t just for vegans, it’s for anyone wanting a healthy, wholesome meal. I love when a customer comes in, has a nice lunch and goes home without knowing it was a vegan meal. Primarily we are a health-food restaurant; we don’t use fake meat, fake cheese or fake butter and there’s no white sugar on the premises. We are used to our coffee being full of syrup and our meals full of salt; I’m trying to prepare food that tastes of food. But if you have a sweet tooth, you can enjoy our Matcha bars made with coconut, seeds and dates or our Mocha balls made with real coffee and cacao nibs, both sweetened naturally. “We coldpress our juices on site, and they are completely unprocessed. At the moment, a popular one is beetroot, blood orange, apple and lemon. We don’t use any plastic, so we have glass bottles, and if you bring bottles back you get 10% off your next juice. We recycle everything we can – the tables are made from reclaimed wood, the lights from recycled glass. All of our takeaway packaging is compostable. If you’re going to do it, you’ve got to commit.” So what made Geff take the decision to become vegan? “I always say I ran out of reasons not to become vegan, or ran out of excuses, I should say! I’d been thinking about health for a long time. I’d always been into healthy eating, or what I thought was healthy, so I came at it more from that aspect. I watched some documentaries on veganism and thought, I can do that for six weeks. And within a week I knew that it was going to be forever. There was no good reason not to any more. And when I decide to do something, I can be quite stubborn, but I’ve never been tempted to go back or doubted my decision. “I actually found it easy, but I know not everyone does. If you tell the average person to suddenly cut this, this and this from their KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

diet, they panic and think they’re left with just a couple of carrots! But once you find out a bit more about nutrition and ways to replace or cut out certain things, then I think it’s pretty easy.” Although Geff enjoyed a broad range of food and knew something about nutrition, when he changed to a vegan diet, he didn’t feel instantly better and, in fact, lost a lot of weight straight away. “That was probably not the best way to do it, although it balanced out after a while,” he says. “I think it takes a while to feel the benefits of any change in your diet. You don’t immediately feel great, which is probably more psychological than physical. It’s a big change so it takes time to level itself out. But I feel happier in myself now in that I’m making better choices. For me, it was always about the wider picture. Stepping back and looking at the choices you make – you can either be part of the problem or part of the solution. It’s the sense of making better choices and that’s not just veganism, it’s about being a better person in general, or at least trying to be! Social situations can be a problem. “I do have a few vegan friends but most of my friends aren’t vegan. It does affect the way some of your old friends look at you, like you’ve suddenly become a hippy. But if they are good friends to begin with then they just roll with it, and after three years, they know it’s not just a fad. “Going out to eat used to be a pain but it’s got so much better recently. When I first started, the only vegan option at a pub would be chips or a green salad. Or you’d order the vegetable soup and then find out it has chicken stock in it. I went into a restaurant the other day and mentioned I was vegan and they offered me quiche, which is predominantly eggs and butter! And someone came into my restaurant the other day to give us a sample of honey water. Honey isn’t vegan, although there are different schools of thought on whether honey counts. There’s even a word for honey-eaters now: ‘beegan’. But it’s pretty widely accepted that honey is not vegan. LOV E BEING V EGAN

“The definition of veganism is ‘any animal or animal by-product’. A big part of my mentality is that doing something is always better than doing nothing. That’s why I avoid the word vegan. The name of my restaurant, The Plant Base, is deliberate in that a vegan will recognise it as meaning vegan but a non-vegan won’t be put off by it. About 50 per cent of our customers are not vegan but they want to focus on the healthy aspect of food, which is what I want to do. People who have no interest in being vegan are still cutting down on their meat and dairy consumption, and all those small things add up. Sales of non-dairy milks, for example, have gone through the roof, and there are so many alternatives. I don’t use any of the meat alternatives because I’m not interested in doing anything that’s fake – just good, wholesome food. I think they serve a purpose for people who really miss meat or don’t have the knowledge or taste for other things. It’s like vaping for smokers; if that helps wean you off cigarettes, then why not.” Although he had previous experience running a busy kitchen for two years, deciding to open his first restaurant was still a big gamble. “It’s the first big risk of my life!,” Geff admits. “When I left university, I took a temporary job as a decorator which lasted 12 years. It was never the plan, it was never what I wanted to do, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I had a few ideas over the years but never followed through on any of them. Food was always one of the things I loved so I got a job as a kitchen assistant and within a short time I was head chef. Towards the end of this, I made the decision to go vegan and the idea of combining that with a restaurant began to form. “I met my wife at University and she’s from Tunbridge Wells so we ended up living here. It seemed a good fit for me, and for the restaurant. I know it would have been less out of place to have opened The Plant Base somewhere like Brighton but it is quite saturated there. It’s got to be a good time for the first vegan restaurant in Tunbridge Wells. 48

LOV E BEING V EGAN

“Our concept is ‘simple, honest goodness’. We do lunch and breakfast bowls which comprise three sections: you pick your base, your topping and a sauce in whatever combination you like. For example, a popular lunch bowl is quinoa, sweet potato, spring onions, chilli, sunflower seeds and edamame beans with an almond and lime sauce. Our sauces are a big part of what we do here. They are real, hearty, rustic sauces rather than just a bit of dressing. We’d like to think that anyone on any diet could come in here and leave feeling full. Another good thing about the combination is that whatever diet you’re on, whether you’re allergic to nuts or a raw vegan, there is always an option for everyone. I don’t want to exclude anyone. We obviously do appeal to vegans but we also appeal to the health conscious – we get a lot of people in here after they have been to the gym or their yoga class.” Geff’s wife became vegan a year after him. “At home, we’ve always cooked from scratch and so for a while she’d eat pretty much the same as me but if she felt like having some chicken, she would. Then, for my birthday she took me to Berlin which, at the time, was the vegan capital of Europe. She said for that week she may as well be vegan and she never went back. “My background, my mentality for veganism came from more of a science-based, planet-wide environmental aspect. She was always a bit more compassionate than me with a bit more empathy, trying to generally do less harm to the planet. So we both ended up in the same place, but from different angles.” Geff is adamant that a vegan diet doesn’t have to be limiting. “There are vast amounts of other food out there that a lot of people on an average diet have never heard of, let alone eaten. I don’t feel as if I’m missing out on anything and I know most vegans feel the same. Protein is the big one that people seem to fixate on but there are so many things that are high in protein, like lentils, beans and broccoli. There’s the old argument that people need to eat meat to get protein but the animal got the protein from eating grass. You’re just skipping the middle man, which makes so much more sense to me. “I think we get stuck in a rut. We tend to buy the same things from the supermarket and don’t think about it too much. People panic at the thought of what they’d be left with if they cut out meat and dairy from their diet but there is so much food to be enjoyed, you just need a bit of knowledge – and to not be scared of chickpeas! And it’s so cheap as well. Admittedly, fake meat and fake cheese are expensive, but rice and beans combine to make a complete protein. We were having a dinner party recently and someone asked me if I was only allowed two foods, what would they be. I said, sweet potato and coffee, although not necessarily together! In terms of what I enjoy eating as a vegan, I’m used to cooking the way I do at The Plant Base, a mix of all the different food groups that cover your nutritional needs. My wife also makes great bolognaise and chillis, real comfort food.” So what advice would Geff give to anyone contemplating changing to a vegan diet? “Small steps are OK. I think a lot of people are scared by the idea of making a massive commitment. Although a lot of vegans will disagree with me on this, I think doing something small is better than doing nothing. In every aspect of life, one small step is better than nothing, whether it’s a health decision or a moral one.” The Plant Base is at 46 Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, tel 01892 674028. KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

Ethical beauty There are plenty of products on the market that vegans – and everyone else – would be happy to use. Here are just a few...

Lush

Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics is the ultimate beauty delicatessen and, since establishing 22 years ago, has been driven by innovation and its ethics. Creators of pioneering beauty products such as the fizzing bath bomb, Lush places emphasis on fresh ingredients, like organic fruits and vegetables, and the highest-quality herbs, flowers and essential oils. Lush operates a strict policy against animal testing – items suitable for both vegetarians and vegans are clearly marked. Lush isn’t just a soap company; it’s also a campaigning company, having run a variety of campaigns over the last few years on issues ranging from animal testing to packaging, plus causes they feel strongly about, such as fox hunting, shark finning, an end to torture and the right to a fair trial, climate change and destitute refugees.

Beauty Without Cruelty

Known for their grace and beauty, Beauty Without Cruelty’s swan symbol emphasises their mission to deliver beauty by the intertwining of natural elements. Beauty Without Cruelty is committed to being at the forefront of ingredient consciousness, which was the aim of their founder Lady Muriel Dowding, who founded Beauty Without Cruelty in 1959. Today, it is a member of the Vegan Society and Cruelty Free International. As the founder of the 100% cruelty-free cosmetics business, Beauty Without Cruelty has been brand leader for over 50 years, with an enviable reputation for progressive incorporation of the best natural ingredients. The Beauty Without Cruelty range is vegan and vegetarian, and free from fragrance, paraben, carmine, PEG, toluene, formaldehyde, phthalate and with talc-free powders.

Kudos loves

Their Full Volume Mascara. It has added vegan fibre to give maximum volume and length. Each lash is coated to its fullest extent thanks to the new extra-dense, fine-haired “Double Depth” brush.

The Jacksons

The beautiful and playful handcrafted jute ‘word-bags’ from The Jacksons are the result of the design collaboration between Louise Jackson and the traditional handicraft workers of south-west Bangladesh. The colours of the bags reflect the vibrant local hues, from earthy red to electric pink and lime green – colours to enliven any trip to the gym, beach or shops. The 100% locally-grown jute bags are light, flexible and durable. This project aims to empower local women in Bangladesh and, through the income it provides, improve their access to health and education. The bags are available from Almasanta – an online fashion portal for luxury sustainable brands, which handpicks products that beautifully fuse fashion, quality and socio-economic awareness. www.almasanta.com KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

LOV E BEING V EGAN

Vegan delicious These recipes, from chef Day Radley, show just how tasty vegan food can be. Day became vegan for purely ethical reasons at the age of 17, exploring fresh, unprocessed, animal-free food and creating a range of healthy recipes that taste great

Golden hummus with tamari baked veg dippers Serves 2

Ingredients For the veg dippers

• 2 handfuls medium-sized cauliflower florets • 4 mushrooms roughly sliced • 2 handfuls sliced sweet potato, 5mm thick • 2 tbsp tamari • 2 tbsp water • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

For the hummus

• 1 can or jar of chickpeas, drained and rinsed well • 1 garlic clove • 1 splash of extra virgin olive oil • 1/2 tsp ground cumin • 1tsp ground turmeric • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper • Juice of 1 lemon • A splash of water • Salt to taste

Method For the veg dippers

1. Preheat oven to 220°C/200° fan/gas mark 7. 2. P ut the tamari, water and cayenne into a bowl, add the

cauliflower and mix until all of the cauliflower is covered. Put the cauliflower onto a baking tray. 3. A dd the mushrooms to the bowl and mix into the liquid. Put them onto the baking tray. 4. The sweet potato doesn’t need any oil so just put those onto the tray as they are, making sure they do not overlap. 5. Bake until just cooked, around 10-15 minutes.

For the hummus

1. B lend all of the ingredients with a hand blender or in a

food processor until smooth. Add a little more water if the blend needs more liquid to turn and blend the mixture well. 2. P our into a bowl and serve with the tamari-baked veg dippers. LOV E BEING V EGAN

Aubergine and spinach curry Serves 2

Ingredients

• 1 aubergine, cubed • 2 onions, roughly chopped • 2 garlic cloves, peeled • 2 tbsp sunflower or coconut oil • 1 tsp of each ground coriander, cumin, cinnamon and chilli • 1 pack of baby spinach • A small pack of frozen peas • Salt, to taste

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C/180° fan/gas mark 6. 2. P ut the cubed aubergine in a bowl, add a tablespoon of oil and mix well.

3. L ay on a baking tray in a single layer and bake for 15 minutes until soft.

4. Put the onion and garlic in a chopper attachment of a hand

blender and purée. You may need to scrape down the sides intermittently or shake it as it’s blending. You want the onion and garlic to totally break down so that it is completely puréed. 5. H eat a tablespoon of oil in a large pan, add the onion mixture and fry on a medium heat. 6. Scrape the mixture if it sticks to the bottom of the pan. If it dries out add a splash of water. 7. Once this has browned (around 10 minutes) add the spices and mix well, then cook for a couple of minutes. This releases the oils from the spices and makes the flavour stronger. 8. Add the aubergine, spinach and peas plus 480mls of water. Simmer for 5 minutes, taste and add salt if needed. 9. Serve with rice, quinoa or flatbread. KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

Easy veg spaghetti with piquant sauce Serves 1

Ingredients

• 2 handfuls of spiralised veg such as butternut squash, courgette, swede, celeriac. If you use large veg, peel it and cut it into quarters before spiralising • 5 sundried tomatoes (use the ones in oil as they are softer and so easier to blend) • 2 tbsp black olives • 1/2 tbsp white miso • A few thyme and sage leaves • 1 handful of baby spinach • 1 small parsnip, peeled • 1/2 tbsp nutritional yeast

Method

1. Put your spiralised veg into a large bowl. 2. B lend the tomatoes, olives, miso and herbs with a hand blender. If the blender is finding this difficult add a splash of water.

3. Add the sauce to the spaghetti; massage in with your hands. 4. Add the spinach, mix briefly and put onto your plate. If you

use your hands for this you can get it to sit nice and high – restaurant style. 5. F inely grate the parsnip, mix it with the nutritional yeast using your finger tips, sprinkle onto the spaghetti and serve.

Chocolate pistachio apricots This is a simple recipe that’s ideal for a dinner party. It looks very decadent and elegant, yet it takes literally minutes to prepare. No unusual ingredients, so all of them can be purchased at your local supermarket Serves 2 Ingredients

• 5 brazil nuts • 5 dried apricots (use unsulphured, like Crazy Jacks which are available in most supermarkets now) • 50g very dark vegan chocolate • 1 tbsp pistachios (raw not salted) • 1/4 tsp ground cardamom (if you cannot get this, use cinnamon or ginger instead)

Method

1. Lay a piece of baking parchment on a flat surface. 2. M elt the chocolate in a glass bowl in a pan of boiling water.

3. C ut a slit in the top of each apricot and push a brazil nut into it.

4. Dip the brazil nut end of each apricot into the chocolate and place on the parchment.

5. G rind the pistachios in a pestle and mortar, add the cardamom and sprinkle over the apricots.

KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

6. Allow to cool until the chocolate is completely solid.

LOV E BEING V EGAN

Rhubarb and rose porridge A delicious variation on porridge Serves 1 Ingredients

• 2 rhubarb stalks, roughly chopped • 3 medjool dates, stone removed • 1 apple cored and chopped into large pieces • A handful of quinoa flakes • 240ml almond milk • 120ml water • Rose petals (these can be found in middle eastern shops as they are used to make tea)

Method

1. P ut all of the ingredients except the petals into a

saucepan. Bring to a simmer, then use a wooden spoon to mash the dates. 2. S immer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour into a bowl and decorate with the rose petals.

Cinnamon torte Ingredients

• 200g almonds • 60ml date syrup • 60g cup cacao powder • 300g cashew nuts • 120mls coconut milk • 2 tsp ground cinnamon

1. Line the base only of a springform cake tin. 2. I n the chopper attachment of a hand blender, or with a very good blender, grind the almonds.

3. A dd the date syrup and the cacao and blend until completely mixed.

4. Put this into the cake tin and press firmly into the base with the back of a spoon.

5. Freeze whilst you are making the topping. 6. To make the topping, blend the cashew nuts, coconut milk, date syrup and cinnamon.

7. Add this to the cake tin. 8. Freeze for an hour or so until set.

All recipes by vegan chef Day Radley www.veganchefday.com

LOV E BEING V EGAN

KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

Food

ecipes Restaurants, r

and news

New season, new flavours Early summer marks a new beginning for Bidborough-based gastropub, The Kentish Hare, with the recent appointment of new General Manager, Paul Barber, and a host of delicious, seasonal dishes on the horizon as the team prepare to launch the summer menu. Owned by renowned TV chefs and brothers, James and Chris Tanner, the pub is a popular haunt for foodies, and as its third birthday approaches, things are going better than ever. We sat down with Paul to talk about his new role – as well as what we can expect from The Kentish Hare over the summer.

Tell us a bit about your history with The Kentish Hare and how you came to be General Manager.

I was here from the beginning, and helped to set up the establishment, so when we officially opened in May 2014, it was a great achievement and personal goal. Three years later, here we are!

What do you hope to achieve in your role, and what are you most looking forward to over the next year? My aim is to continue to provide a professional service, offering fantastic food, cooked to order and served by professionals, that ensures a superb dining experience. We are now a well-supported integral part of Bidborough life and provide a focal and gathering point for the village to enjoy throughout the year.

What’s the best thing about your job?

Meeting lots of interesting people from diverse background – I do like to talk!

And the worst?

That’s a really tough question. I can honestly say I enjoy every part of my job – I’m a great problem solver! Seeing all the delicious food go out and not be able to tuck into it myself is quite tough, though!

What do you see as being your greatest challenge in the role?

My greatest challenge is keeping a tight ship and making sure that everyone is happy – both customers and staff.

What do you like the most about The Kentish Hare?

When I was younger, we used to visit the pub as a family quite often. To see it in its full glory and customers enjoying it as much as I did all those years ago makes the hard work worth it. It really does feel like home when I turn up to work. 54

LOV E FOOD AND DRINK

Former GM, Melvyn Funnell Strange (right), handing the reins over to Paul.

Which dishes are the highlights of the current menu?

At the moment we have a succulent grilled lamb rump with braised lamb shoulder, celeriac purée and crispy potato shavings, which is my current personal favourite. Customers also love the slow-cooked pork belly with caramelised apple and creamy mashed potato.

What can we expect from the summer menu, and when does it arrive? Our chefs like to keep their menu plans close to their chests so it’s a closely guarded secret at the moment, but you’ll be sure to see plenty of seasonal options in current trends. It should be available by the end of June.

Do Chris and James design the menus themselves, or do all kitchen staff play a role? It’s a combination of the two, and the approach is always collaborative. Our Head Chef, Bobby, and his team have their say, and Chris and James work with them until everyone is happy with the end result.

What is the inspiration for the new dishes? We are mostly guided by what’s in season and create our dishes by what’s available to us. We’re really big on fresh, local produce! www.thekentishhare.com

KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

A taste of Spain New tapas restaurant opens in Tonbridge

Daniel with wife, Polly, and son, Bobby For excellent tapas, fine wines and fresh, bespoke cocktails, head to The Clock House Tonbridge in Barden Road, by the station. This new tapas restaurant and wine bar opened in April, on the former site of Mojo’s Bar, and is set to become a firm favourite. It’s spearheaded by proprietor Daniel Ward, who already runs The Ivy House in Tonbridge. He has appointed Tim Harrington as Executive Head Chef to lead the experienced team of four chefs. Tim joins The Clock House with a wealth of experience and expertise in fine dining, having previously been Executive Head Chef at Lord’s Cricket Ground and Executive Head Chef at The Royal Opera House. With a focus on quality and sustainability, the authentic menu is a mix of locally-sourced produce from around Kent and cured meats imported directly from Spain. “I am confident that we can make the new restaurant a real success,” said Daniel. “Tonbridge is certainly going through a revolution. We have a lot of competition out there, but most places offer something unique so it doesn’t feel as though we’re in direct competition.” Why tapas for his new venture? “It’s my favourite way of eating. I love visiting Spain and I wanted to bring some of that authentic flavour to The Clock House. “It’s also a very social, more casual way of dining and I’m hoping it will appeal to young professional people – women in particular – who want to enjoy a glass of wine and some tasty food somewhere other than a pub.” The Clock House is open seven days a week. For bookings and general enquiries, call 01732 302072 KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

LOV E FOOD AND DRINK

A matter of taste New products for you to try

Sunshine in a cup! Sunshine with your coffee? Beanies have launched an innovative new range of premium flavour coffees fortified with Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin. Beanies+ comes in Vanilla Bean, Cherry Chocolate and Apple Cinnamon and is made using natural flavours and is sugar-free. £3.49 for a 50g jar www.beaniesflavourco.co.uk

Ketchup with attitude New Black Garlic Ketchup from Hawkshead Relish is made by baking whole, fresh garlic bulbs for 40 days at a very low temperature, creating an extraordinary flavour. The puréed garlic cloves are then combined by hand with fresh tomatoes, olive oil and Anglesey sea salt for ketchup sauce that’s the ultimate addition to cooked meats, tarts, potato wedges, roast vegetables, shellfish, glazes… the list goes on! Price: £4.99 www.hawksheadrelish.com

Lets eat out

Al-fresco eating just got a whole lot more exciting with the launch of Delvita’s handcrafted wood-fired oven. These beautifully-designed, compact ovens come in a range of four colours – Vintage Blue, Hale Grey, Olive Green and Very Black – are easy to use and entirely portable at just under 30kg. Insulating heatproof handles mean they can be positioned anywhere – on anything. Wood-smoked pizzas take just 90 seconds, and steak, fish and vegetables also cook perfectly in these UK-made outdoor ovens. You can even cook desserts like meringues and brownies. Price: £950 www.delivita.co.uk

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Property den

Home and gar

Something old, something new Feeling creative, fancy a bargain or want perfect period details for your home? Then try upcycling old furniture, visit the local reclamation yard or get bidding at the auction house

Upcycling

Upcycling is all about breathing new life into old items – be it furniture, home accessories or even clothing. It’s all about recycling old items into much prettier pieces for your home. So before you throw away that tired old chair or marked coffee table and buy a new piece of furniture, think about how it could be updated and get creative. If you want a bit of practice first, then pick something up at a car boot sale or junk shop to practice on. Always lightly sand wooden furniture down before painting – it will make a huge difference to the finish and is easily done. And don’t expect a perfect finish – it’s supposed to look a bit shabby chic.

Recycling

Architectural salvage or reclamation is big business these days. Salvage yards or shops are like Aladdin’s caves of treasures. Every time a building comes down, there is some kind of salvage, from period bricks, tiles, stone, front doors and chimney pots to fireplaces, radiators, baths and sinks, floorboards and flagstones. You can also find more unusual items such as stained glass and original door furniture, plus plenty of stone urns, statuary and benches for the garden. Check anything carefully before buying. It’s pointless paying out for period lighting, only to find that it doesn’t comply with regulations, or taps and radiators that aren’t compatible with modern plumbing. KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

Auctions

The perfect way to bag a bargain. Auction houses sell items for many reasons, from company liquidation stock to homeowners having a clear out. Whatever the reason, buying at auction means you could pick up unique and interesting furniture for next to nothing. If you’ve never bought at auction, go to a few to find out what happens. When you do decide to buy, mark anything that interests you in the catalogue, decide on your maximum price and don’t get carried away and spend more.

Antiques Fairs

The Ardingly International Antiques & Collectors Fair, which is held every month at the South of England Showground is worth visiting. It’s the largest of its kind in the south east, and with up to 1,700 stalls housing thousands of goods – from fine antique furniture to delicate ceramics and everything inbetween, it’s ideal for vintage shopping. The next fair is on 20th and 21st June.

Read on for ideas, tips and where to find the best of something old and something new...

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Revive and refresh Babsi Lapwood, owner of B@Home which recently opened at Boarshead, just outside Tunbridge Wells, gives tips on upcycling Antique and secondhand furniture shops are full of hidden gems that just need a loving touch. You can’t beat antiques for their quality and craftsmanship, but no house looks its best with old and rundown furniture. Here are some tips on bringing them back to life.

Stripping and vanishing

My latest project is a gorgeous antique dressing table and piano chair. I didn’t like the mahogany stain and decided to strip the whole piece and start over. Don’t be fooled, it takes time to strip furniture and is very messy, but it’s worth it. I decided to make the pieces a little bit more rustic, show the original mahogany wood but with a modern twist.

Different staining ideas

Why not paint your wooden furniture in different colours? I painted these children’s chairs in different shades before using wood dye and vanish to enhance the antique floorboard look. 60

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Sometimes you can make a big difference with little effort. This piano chair only took me an hour to finish its new look – I added some wadding for the seat, fire-resistant fabric and decorative nails. You can see from my pictures how simple it was. KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

Mix and match ideas – antiques with a modern twist Always remember to sand between coats with very fine sandpaper to archive a smooth finish.

Never dismiss what you have at home. I hated our modern-looking office furniture and decided to paint-spray them with chalk paint. Using chalk paint helps to save time as in most cases you can skip sanding or priming. Chalk paint is used for creating a more aged appearance but has to be finished and sealed with a wax. The furniture now looks completely different and much more attractive, with new cup handles and matching shelving units. With just a little effort and imagination, those pieces that you don’t love can be given a new lease of life and continue to be useful for many years to come.

Water rings and stains

Don’t be too quick sanding down beautiful old wood – you often can remove stains with a wood bleach, white vinegar or even coconut oil. But remember to use mineral spirits first, as they are ideal to clean surfaces of any waxy or greasy substances.

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Making wood look old – I love this one!

Maybe you’ve found a piece of furniture or a wooden fireplace you would like to age. Aging wood is very quick and simple with just white vinegar, steel wool and black tea. I have used this method a few times in my own home and on wooden signs. Here is one example of the new light beech wooden shelf and skirting board in our bathroom, which I have aged using this method, without having to use wood dye.

Repairing wood

When buying secondhand or antique furniture, you should ensure it is in a reasonable state – i.e. no woodworm – and make sure it’s worth your time and effort. BUT don’t be scared of repairing wood. Broken pieces can be re-glued, wobbly legs reinforced with corner hinges and chipped wood filled with wood filler before painting or staining.

Last but not least

One good trick to help create a weathered and worn look is to use candle wax. The wax is applied to bare wood or a base coat then painted over with a different top coat. Once dry you can use sandpaper to expose the undercoat colour or original wood. Always remember to finish your piece with either a clear vanish, oil or wax, depending on the look you would like to achieve.

I feel antiques should be loved, used and proudly displayed to recapture their former glory, but with a little modern twist. B @ Home offers a professional bespoke service for your own furniture, allowing you to have a special item rejuvenated so it will suit your home and bring back those special memories. Call B @ Home on 07811 200062 for more information or visit www.BatHome.co.uk for current pieces and prices. Free pick up and delivery within a 10-mile radius.

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That’ll be the day When Jo Dyer took over Farrago on Battle High Street and renamed it One Day, she was fulfilling a lifelong dream. Here she tells her story... I worked in Farrago for about 17 years, from when I was at art college, studying graphic design. I started the job there because ‘one day’, I wanted a shop of my own. At college, I used to sketch pictures of my shop of the future and I always called it One Day, so that sort of stuck! I loved working in Farrago as I got to use my creative side and invent a new window display each week, as well as the displays inside. Then the opportunity came up to take over Farrago as my own. It has taken a long time but finally One Day has become a reality. You’ll find clothing and accessories, including White stuff and Great Plains, as well as home furnishings, gifts and cards. I make beaded bracelets and necklaces from old pieces I collect from junk shops, charity shops and so on. I break them up and then mix the pieces to create new, individual ones, giving the old beads a new lease of life. I also print my own card designs from lino cuts.

Playing shops as a little girl – I loved it then too!

My college friend Kate is a graphic designer working in St Leonards and she makes beautiful bespoke cushions from mainly vintage fabrics.

My Polish colleague and friend Gosia and her partner Marek create these lovely driftwood signs and candle holders from sea-aged wood and metal they find on their long walks along the Hastings coast.

Kirsty, who also works here and lives in Battle, makes these lovely vintage teacup candles. I really love the vintage feel!

The shop was renovated using reclaimed materials with the help of my brother, who is a carpenter. We used old floorboards for the counter and pillar in the front window, old doors to create the wall in the changing rooms and an old Victorian privy to create the panelling around the shop. I also found an abandoned old carpenter’s desk which I now use as a table in the shop. One Day, 79 High St, Battle TN33 0AG Tel. 01424 773831

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Take a seat For retro charm, a Chesterfield sofa is ideal. But the classic design now comes in many guises. So where to start? Making the decision to update your sofa is an exciting time but it can also be a little bit daunting. The options can seem endless and, while on the one hand, you may be inspired by on-trend glossy magazines, it’s important to remember that this is an item that will be in your home for 10-plus years. While you might love that bright red, Russian nesting-doll print today, will their beaming little faces still fill your home with joy in five years’ time? For timeless elegance, you can’t beat a Chesterfield sofa, perfectly paired with a gorgeous velvet. Velvet has had a bit of a revamp in recent years and, while it still has a hint of comforting, grandmotherly charm about it, it’s overwhelming appeal is far more luxurious. A cotton velvet is tough but will pick up the odd mark, adding character in much the same way as a well-loved leather chair. But if your lifestyle demands something a little more robust, choose a family-friendly crushed or deep-pile velvet that won’t be a write-off after a red wine spill or chocolaty calamity. Remember that colours look brightest when printed on velvet, and for that reason patterned velvets can look amazing. But choose carefully. Ensure longevity by picking patterns that have timeless appeal like a lovely Liberty print; however adventurous they seem they will always be en vogue. The Chesterfield sofa itself has had a bit of an update, too, and now comes in many guises. Think squared-off arms for modern elegance, a higher back for those in need of a bit more support and even a Chesterfield style without buttons for a cleaner, more contemporary look. Whichever style of sofa takes your fancy, Sofas & Stuff have in-store design experts on hand to help with buckets of interior design advice. Pop in for a browse at their showroom on the A26 in Eridge, just outside Tunbridge Wells.

Yesterday meets today Bringing new life to period furniture and decor is a skilled job, as Sarah Bellamy explains… Sarah Bellamy, owner of interiors company Skinners of Tunbridge Wells, was contacted by a client who collects Art Deco furniture, which she sources from around the world. She wanted advice on her pieces and redesigning the room in which they were placed. Says Sarah: “Her drawing room is a veritable treasure trove of Art Deco pieces. However, some required work to the main frames, as well general reupholstery. “I visited the client for an initial appointment to view the drawing room and the furniture, all of which were fine examples from the Art Deco period, in varying styles and sizes. It was a large and spacious room which would require zoning to incorporate all the pieces. “The room had a dado rail and I suggested that as well as reupholstering the furniture, we source an Art Deco-style wallpaper for below the rail to try and pull the whole room together. On display were also some stunning lamps, and I suggested that Skinners of Tunbridge Wells made some bespoke shades for the lamps to complement the furniture. I chose a shagreen silk for the outside, with a complimentary slub silk on the inside. “The client wanted to keep the existing curtains, which went perfectly with the style of the room. However, I suggested we make Roman blinds to sit behind them, in keeping with the period style. Naturally, the curtains dictated our colour palette. I spent some time researching Art Deco fabrics, and then sourced modern fabrics that had the same look and feel. I also took into account the sizes of the pieces to be upholstered, and tried to use different tones and textures so the whole look harmonised. “On my second visit, I took along a number of swatches and made my suggestions as to which fabrics suited which pieces, based on the shape and size of the furniture, coupled with the fabric pattern and my research. “Whilst the reupholstery was being carried out by one of our excellent upholsterers who specialises in antique pieces, the wallpaper was hung and the Roman blinds made and fitted. “The final part of the project was placing and arranging all the newly-upholstered pieces so that the entire scheme worked together. The result was beautiful, and the client was thrilled with her ‘new’ period drawing room.” Skinners of Tunbridge Wells, 6 Castle Street, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1XJ Tel. 01892 532003 www.skinnersoftunbridgewells.co.uk

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A few of my favourite things Miles Ingram at Tinker & Toad in Heathfield shows us some of his favourite pieces that you’ll find in the shop at the moment

Handsome solid light oak antique school cupboard/bookcase

One of my favourite finds this year is this beautiful bookcase/cupboard with handy and functional sliding doors and original brass handles. Of simple but classic design, it has a wonderful colour, patina and grain. A functional and attractive piece with bundles of storage. Sourced from an old private school in Yorkshire, such items are increasingly rare to find with many being destroyed in the demolition or refurbishment of old schools and office buildings. Circa 1910-1930, this is a particularly good looking, practical piece of furniture and a sound investment to boot! Dimensions: 170cm wide x 45cm deep x 122cm high. Price £775

Vintage-style leather and canvas Alcott armchair

We love these armchairs! Genuine leather and canvas vintage-styled armchair with some cool, accented printing as shown in the images. It has a distressed finish to give that authentic vintage look. Price: £545

Tempered glass wall art

We are now stocking some really cool, contemporary pieces of wall art in toughened tempered glass. There are loads of designs to choose from, but two of my current favourites are Lady & Dalmation (120cm x 120cm) which is priced at £199, and George Peabody Library in Baltimore, USA (120cm x 180cm) which is £299. Our glass art collection features a series of superb highdefinition images which are brought to life on the reverse of crystal-clear tempered (toughened) and laminated 4mm glass panels. Professional quality invisible fixings are included which easily hang your glass art on any flat wall or flat surface.

Tinker & Toad, 57 High Street, Heathfield TN21 8HY Tel. 01435 863535 www.tinkerandtoad.com

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Forgotten treasures From sinks to fireplaces, bricks to radiators, you’ll find what you’re looking for – and a whole lot more – at a reclamation yard. Here’s a selection of what’s on offer at Best Reclamation in Heathfield…

This beautiful stripped pine Victorian door has been lovingly refurbished and restored.

A selection of our garden ornaments, some stunning original pieces interspersed with some locally hand-cast reproduction items.

A corner of our showroom crammed with some of our goodies from Victorian fireplaces and ornamental mirrors to post office windows.

A classical Greek style statue depicting a demure lady whilst bathing.

Best Reclamation, Harcourt Lodge Buildings, Burwash Road, Heathfield TN21 8RA Tel. 01435 511147 www.bestdemolition.co.uk Best Reclamation

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A unique pair of oak hand carved pew ends dating from the 1860s and a sample of our decorative cast iron Victorian stair spindles. LOV E YOUR HOME

Best of both worlds Bring something old, something new, or a mix of both to your kitchen – here’s our pick from the top designers

Traditional craftsmanship

When it comes to the debate on the benefits of old versus new, Rencraft believes you can enjoy the best of both. And with more and more of their customers wanting to combine both classic and contemporary touches within their kitchen design, this is clearly a trend that is gathering pace with homeowners, too. In terms of the quality of the manufacture, many people still appreciate the values of Rencraft’s traditional handmade cabinetry. The classic in-frame door style that they provide is as popular as ever, but they are often asked to add a modern ‘twist’. The latest must-have appliances, such as built-in wine storage as pictured here, oven stacks or large American-style fridge freezers, ensure that customers enjoy the benefits of beautiful, bespoke handcrafted furniture without sacrificing any of the conveniences of modern life. While optional extra touches like stainless-steel plinths, mirrored splashbacks, polished chrome handles (all pictured) and a contemporary paint palette all add to the modern feel of the finished design.

www.rencraft.co.uk

Handmade and handsome

Chamber Furniture has a very simple philosophy: custom-built furniture should be a joy from start to finish. Whilst they are probably best known for bespoke kitchens, their work often encompasses every room in the house. All their furniture is genuinely bespoke and handmade to your exact specification. There are no standard cupboard sizes or specific ranges as they feel this restricts their customers. Instead, clients are invited to visit the stunning, newly-refurbished showroom in Halstead to explore distinguished designs and discuss ideas with the experts. Pictured here is a beautiful kitchen that strikes a perfect balance between traditional and contemporary style. The hand-painted, shaker-style cabinetry is given a modern touch with golden handles and a gorgeous sculptured form. Perlino quartz worktops and Herringbone wall tiles complete the neutral but effective colour scheme of this kitchen. Every project, regardless of scale or budget, is welcomed and afforded the same enthusiasm. A browse through Chambers’ stunning showroom and a chat with its welcoming staff will demonstrate just how devoted the company is to the highest-quality customer service and the creation of beautiful, bespoke furniture. Bespoke kitchens are priced from £40,000. For more information visit www.chamberfurniture.co.uk or tel 01959 532553

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Innovative technology that helps to create the perfect kitchen

Kitchen design and installation specialists Jones Britain, based in Heathfield, are experts in making kitchen dreams a reality and have built a reputation for truly exceptional kitchen design and superior service. When clients come to them with ideas about what they want to achieve, the team uses a combination of traditional techniques and innovative technology to bring their vision to life. The latest three-dimensional computer-aided design software allows them to explore different layouts and look at the functionality and ease of

use of appliances in different locations, as well as being able to map out the way the space flows as people move around it. The ability to manipulate designs by adding different layers, colours and textures gives clients confidence that the final design they choose will be the perfect fit for their criteria. From here, it is over to their dedicated project manager to oversee the manufacture and installation process. The result: a beautiful kitchen manufactured using traditional techniques, with the inclusion of cutting-edge technology in the design process to ensure that the perfect space is created and ticks all the boxes. www.jonesbritain.co.uk

Traditional techniques for a beautiful home

The beautiful new Neptune showroom in Tonbridge showcases their elegant range of handcrafted furniture and accessories for the whole home. The philosophy at Neptune is that beautiful objects should be made well, and they take pride in their use of traditional techniques to make stunning furniture and homewares. Products are designed in-house, and then manufactured by highly-skilled craftsman in Neptuneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own factory, using methods such as mortise and tenon joinery. In recent years, Neptune has become a favourite of the interior design media, who appreciate that their easy and classic style offers remarkable value for heirloom-worthy pieces of furniture. Using traditional skills to manufacture items for the home ensures that they have longevity and durability compared to high-street or mass-produced alternatives. With furniture giving a home a framework, it is the accessories that bring it to life. Neptune offers specialist advice on everything from the flooring right up to the ceiling lights, and are experts in helping customers transform their homes.

www.neptune.com/tonbridge KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

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Sleek and stylish

Retro meets contemporary with this industrial-style space and modern, glossy white kitchen units by Kutchenhaus, part of the Nobilia kitchen group, the largest manufacturer of kitchens in the world. Kutchenhaus German kitchens come in a wide range of styles and designs, built to the highest standards and featuring all the latest technologies you would expect (and demand) from your kitchen, including soft-close drawers, clever corner units and progressive door hinges. Kutchenhaus has a reputation for keeping up with the latest trends, launching new products, styles and colours every year. This year, they have expanded their matt-finish doors, as well as their handleless Line N range. They have also introduced two induction hobs with built-in extractor fans, ideal for open-plan living.

They tend to specialise in contemporary kitchens with clean, modern lines. Their Line N range is extremely popular for its on-trend look, but Kutchenhaus also has Shaker and traditional styles, along with matt, gloss and slab kitchens. Kitchens are made to order and arrive in the UK fully built and ready to install, considerably cutting down on installation time. There’s a wide choice of classic whites, creams and ivorys through to fresh neutrals, including putty and anthracite, but Kitchenhaus also has one of the largest portfolios of coloured kitchens in the country. If you’re feeling daring, there are various shades of red, plus black and aubergine, to name just a few. Best of all, Kutchenhaus kitchens start from as little as £5,000, including appliances. Visit the showroom at 319 St John’s Road (above Majestic Wine), Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9XE.

www.kutchenhaus.co.uk

A modern take on tradition

As Mounts Hill is a traditional woodworking company, you’d expect them to be more than proficient in producing beautiful, traditionally-styled kitchens and furniture – and you’d be right! What you might not realise is that they also excel in the design and manufacture of contemporary styles as well. Mounts Hill customers live in a large variety of homes, from new, architect-designed, exclusive coastal houses to Grade II-listed town houses, rambling old farmhouses deep in the countryside, and every style, shape, size and age inbetween. Mounts Hill is proud of their ability to design and create kitchens and furniture to fit perfectly into every architectural style. With the capability to spray-paint both gloss and matt finishes, and to create their own veneer at their workshop in Cranbrook, they can manufacture and supply the latest finishes to create stunning kitchens in unique colours and woodgrains. The two examples here are recent projects. The first one is in a stunning coastal house in East Sussex, with large open-plan living areas. The kitchen was matt spray finished, a handleless design with lots of custom-built storage. The other one is in a beautiful Georgian town house in Royal Tunbridge Wells; Grade II-listed with original features to match. The kitchen doors are veneered in a unique cluster oak, and the kitchen features lots of storage, large drawers, a huge larder cabinet and traditional Belfast sink.

www.mountshill.com 70

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Home notes

Fresh ideas and style tips on the home front

Stencil heaven

Upcycling has just become even more exciting with Everlong Paint’s new range of reusable stencils. With inspiration taken from the picturesque rural area of Northumberland, provincial French style and contemporary literature, there is a design to suit any renovator’s tastes. Let your imagination run wild with one of the gorgeous 13 patterns, designed to complement Everlong’s range of chalk paint in 25 colours. From birds and bees to beautiful flowers, you’ll be able to create effortless masterpieces in no time. Stencils are the perfect tool to enhance your upcycled projects or spruce up your existing furniture pieces. They are also versatile enough to be used on any surface with a roller, sponge or brush. Why not get creative and design a feature wall full of delicate butterflies, or finish off your shabby chic bedroom with the ultimate boudoir print? Price:£8.95 for an A5 stencil; £12.95 for A4 www.everlongpaint.com

Sign of the times

Wood is recycled into personalised signs and art influenced by days gone by at the fair. Old pallets, planks and crates are used to make up boards, with traditional signwriting techniques used to add letters, words and symbols. All the boards come with the option of battery-operated LED lights. Choose your own colours and styles. Price: £25 www.sweetheartdarling.co.uk 72

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Bottle it

Upcycled glass bottles, each hand painted with a different design and shape. They would look great grouped together, or could be used for flowers. Price: £56.95 www.iansnow.com KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

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Style your home The latest trends for stylish living Upcycling has never been so popular – and here’s the proof. From reclaimed wooden cabinets to silver-plated cutlery repurposed as plant markers, you never need buy new again

Copper creation

Hard-wearing and unarguably industrial, this copper pipe table lamp from The Glow Company ticks all the style boxes and showcases vintage-styled filament bulbs perfectly. Complete with a braided cord and incorporated dimmer switch, this creative lamp can be adjusted to set the tone on your room and looks great on tables, shelves and sideboards. Price: £60 www.glow.co.uk

Strike a light Cocktail shaker

The Old Cinema, London’s only antique, vintage, and retro department store, opened in 1979. This retro 1970’s cocktail cabinet has been upcycled by Kate Noakes. Price: £1,250 www.theoldcinema.co.uk

Imposing 1940’s flameproof floodlights converted into feature pendants. These striking lights were made by British manufacturer GEC and salvaged from one of the decommissioned Rolls-Royce factory buildings in Derby. The light is made up of a substantial three-part polished aluminium enclosure with its original flameproof glass lens. Its profile is sleek and refined with an impressive number of manufacturers details cast into the metal and emphasising the heritage of the light. A new aluminium bracket allows the pendant to be angled and locked in position if desired. Supplied with a new screw (E27) lamp holder, two metres of suspension chain, elephant grey braided cable and ceiling mounting plate. Price: £1,615.20 www.skinflintdesign.co.uk

Salvage piece

Unique contemporary six-drawer, two-door sideboard from Amaroni Home’s exclusive Urban Chic range made using reclaimed wood salvaged from old buildings in places such as Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan Southern India. The wood used is generally between 50 and 150 years old and is assembled by skilled craftsmen who create this colourful and interesting furniture. As each piece is hand finished using a unique blend of reclaimed timbers, every item is truly individual. A beautifully-made steel outer frame gives a fantastic urban edge and offers great structural rigidity. Price: £499 www.amaroni.com 74

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A place to reflect George Sykes of Gardenproud has designed a quiet space, perfect for contemplation

Plant List: Pond • Nymphaea Candida (Dwarf White Water Lily) – White cup shaped flowers with yellow stamens

Beds • Pittosporum tenuifolium – ‘Pompom’ – evergreen balls, c 450mm • Stipa Lessingiana – Feather grass, a hardy perennial, c 750mm • A llium Mount Everest – A beautiful cream, statuesque allium, May/June flowering

• Agapanthus Africanus Albus – White, July to September flowering • Zantedeschia Aethiopica – Distinctive white flowers March to June

• Dryopteris Wallichiana – An outstandingly hardy fern, with upright stems covered in brown-black bristly hairs • Cornus Alba Elegantissima – Dogwood, flowering May/June, green variegated with white leaf

• Penstemon Pensham – Artic Fox, summer to autumn flowering • Salvia Nemorosa – Lyrical – White flowering, early summer flowering perennial • Spiraea Arguta – “Bridal Wreath” – Spring flowering shrub

Fighting our way through our busy lives, it’s all too easy to forget that it’s good to take time to stop, enjoy some down time, and clear our minds. The garden is the perfect place to do this, and “Contemplation” has been designed by George Sykes of Gardenproud to provide that peaceful spot where we can relax and reflect. The Garden features a shallow pond leading to a sanctuary, sheltered by two English Oak arches where you can seek refuge on a comfortable bespoke oak bench. Italian porcelain pavers have been used as stepping stones and for the surface of the sanctuary. Your eye is immediately drawn to the iron sculpture, created by local artist Michael Hart, who designed the piece specifically for this garden. The sculpture includes a series of vertical panels that have been forged by Michael to create a rippling pattern, echoing the gentle calm of the shallow pond’s surface. Finally, the planting both in the pond and around the garden has been provided by How Green Nursery and is designed to reflect the theme – ‘White’, inspired by Sissinghurst’s famous White Garden – enclose the sanctuary and reinforce the sense of calm. 76

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• Aquilegia Vulgaris – “White Barlow” – c 900mm, spring/ summer flowering

• Leucojum Gravetye – “White snow drops” – spring flowering • Astelia Chathamica – Silver Spear – silver green long leaves reminiscent of phormiums, flowering late Spring

• Freesia – Wonderfully fragrant creamy white flowers in Spring

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To view the garden in all its glory, call into Corkerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new show gardens in Paddock Wood. For further information and help with your garden design, contact Tim Sykes at Gardenproud on 07725 173820, or email him at reallygardenproud@btinternet.com Whether you are seeking a contemporary, or traditional solution Gardenproud can help you. Gardenproud, based in Matfield, have been established since 2007, and have designed and built many gardens in the Tunbridge Wells area. They also have a garden maintenance division which has looked after many properties locally.

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Garden notes All you need for your outside space

Starter kit

Gear

Not sure what to grow first? This starter kit from Plant ‘n’ Grow is geared towards gin enthusiasts, and comes with high-quality seeds to get you started with growing your own garnishes. With the kit, you’ll be able to grow cucumber, rosemary, basil and thyme, and it also includes two readyto-use cocktail infusion bags (just add gin!), a cocktail recipe book and illustrated instructions that are easy to follow even after a drink or two! Price: £16.95 www.plant-n-grow.co.uk

Gardening brand Niwaki was founded by topiary and pruning specialist Jake Hobson, after he spent time in Japan and discovered a love for gardening and the Japanese tools used to maintain beautiful green spaces. Niwaki, meaning ‘garden tree’, is a collection of tools and equipment from skilled Japanese craftspeople. They’re all made to last, and range from three-legged ladders and secateurs to leather holsters, bamboo brooms and more. Plus, Jake runs workshops and courses so you can learn from an expert. www.niwaki.com

Space saver

Creating an outdoor area to relax and unwind in can be a difficult task if you have a small space to work with. The popular Boston stacking bistro set is ideal for those looking to do just this. It’s designed to stack perfectly together when not in use, allowing you to store it away with ease. Its tall cylindrical shape also means it will fit perfectly in a corner, and it is made from low maintenance PVC rattan, making it completely weather proof. Available in a choice of grey or brown flatweave, the set includes two large armchairs, each with a cushion, and a bistro style coffee table. Price: £349 www.modeliving.co.uk

May and June in the garden • •

ay straw between strawberry plants to keep the fruit L clean and make sure no mould grows Plant some roses to fill your garden with fragrance. The beginning of May is also the perfect time to plant containers with perennials which will come each year

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• • •

I f you’re thinking of growing vegetables, now is the time to start Plant summer bedding plants in late May or early June Trim fast-growing hedges, such as privet, every six weeks over the summer

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Wild swimming Edward Erith of GardenEye, who specialise in consultancy and garden design, landscaping and project management, prays for rain to fill his first pond pool It is extraordinary how many people are unaware of the current drought conditions. At GardenEye, we are fully aware of it as we have had an almost perfect winter to work through. It has been ridiculously fair and easy for us this year. And we know because this year seems to be our year for pond building (or digging) and our first foray into building a pond pool. Now, a pond pool is primarily a pond with a pool area in it to swim in. It is not heated, it does not have any paving or tiles in it or around it, it uses a spectacularly simple air-flow mechanism on a very small air compressor to literally pump air around the pond (like a fish tank), rather than a vast and energy-zapping water pump, and it has a percentage of plants all the way around it that act as the perfect water filter. It is beautiful to admire and completely unpretentious. The shelving which houses the plants is shallow, so warmed air is taken from this shallow, naturally-warmer area, and pumped into the main pool part – so it is not a freezing pool at all. With a 2.2m depth, the pool has plenty of room for a deck jetty from which to dive off in summer. It’s a superb way to have a natural swimming pool with the freshest water you can possibly get. The water must be natural and not the chemically-enhanced stuff we drink. That is not allowed! At approximately a quarter of the cost of a conventional pool, you can go natural, with one of the main benefits being that for half the year you will have a lovely pond to look at and the other half of the year a beautiful pond to look at that you really can swim in! But the irony of this is that even when completed in early January, the pond pool has only 50cm of water in it. In any other year it would be full to the brim by now. So, we don’t know how it will perform yet and, of course, it can’t be planted. Along with farmers and gardeners everywhere in the south east, we’d appreciate as many of you as possible doing a rain dance for us and your gardens this spring. Interested in having your own pond pool or a consultation on your garden? Then give me a call on 01797 260451 or email info@gardeneye.co.uk www.gardeneye.co.uk

The pond in construction. The only time it rained during the course of the project was when the banks had just been dug before the block wall footings were put in – and that promptly collapsed the sides!

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Family

Education and

Heads up!

lifestyle

Top local head teachers give their views

This issue, head teachers talk about their school’s greatest achievements...

Angela Culley, Headmistress

The Mead School, Tunbridge Wells Co-educational preparatory school for boys and girls aged 3-11 Exam successes, scholarships awarded, sports successes, over 110 children learning musical instruments, the amazing drama and musical productions put on each year at Trinity Theatre, winning the National ISA Drama competition, the choir, church services, our latest inspection report – the list of wonderful Mead accomplishments and successes is endless. However, unequivocally over and above all the rest, The Mead’s greatest accomplishments are our Meadites past and present! To have the privilege of watching the children entrusted into our care grow into confident, well-rounded and firmly-grounded adults never ceases to give me joy. The values, confidence and self esteem instilled into our little people stay deep within them as they leave their second home at 16, Frant Road to face their next educational adventure. They stay in contact, return to touch base regularly, share their news and even send their own children to The Mead. We commissioned an ex Meadite, a very talented artist, to undertake a painting for the school’s new reception. The theme?

Anything which reminded him of his time at The Mead. The result is unique and there for generations to come – a rabbit holding out a gift-wrapped acorn to a squirrel who is equally holding out a gift-wrapped carrot. They look into each other’s eyes – ‘Treat others as you would like to be treated’. An accomplishment at every level.

Kate Elliott, Head Teacher

Bricklehurst Manor School, Stonegate Mainstream independent school for pupils aged 3-11 Annie, Mabel, Rafe, Rupert, Monty, Olivia, Max, Charlie, Arthur, Orla, Artie, Tristan, Mia, Poppy, Elliot, Louis, Benjamin, William, James, Felix, Lorelei, Cosmo, Harrison, Paul-Andre, Joshua, Pepper, Blue, Imogen, Harrison, Daniel, Samuel, Eva, Alexander, Christopher, Yoshi, Hal, Thomas, Isabel, Josie, Amelia, Freddie, Harry, Poppy, Elizabeth, Gibson, Poppy, Mia, Elsie, Freddy, Sophie, Ben, Artie, JJ, Ilana, Sunny, Ollie, Inez, George, Tilda, Ella, George, Isabelle, Louis, Grace, Zack, Alex, Sophie, Joshua, Ollie, Olivia, Toby, Samuel, Ellie, Luke, Florence, Jasper, Edward, Megan, Amelie, Rosie, Harry, Joshua, Rory, Max, Oliver, Eloise, Mackenzie, Francis, Sam, Isabelle, Hannah, Theodore, Pippa, Lucia, Cosmo, Micah, William, Nell, Freddie, George, Thomas, Samuel, Amber, Imogen, Tom, Alice, Ellie, Savanna, Samuel, Joe, Sam, Benedict, William, Rory, Reuben, Toby, Beth, Connor, Caspar, Jake, Lottie, Isabel, Isabelle, Phoebe, Ben, James, Lara, Olivia, Ben, Orlanda, Felix, Phoebe, Lucca, Elle, Callum, Megan, George, Charlotte, William, Archie, Emma, Megan, Amelia, Emma, Luma, Nicholas, Ellis, William, Alice, Joseph, Thomas, Harriet, Henry, Isabelle, Amelia, Isabella, Charlotte, Alexander, Charlotte, Finley, Isabel, James, Freya, Soraya, Eleanor, Alexandra, Molly, Lucy, Myrtle, Poppy, Madeleine, Susan, Lucy, Rachel, Amelia, Henry, Ben, Maisie, Alexandra, Natalie, Jemima, Gabriel, Niamh, Juliet, Flora, Thomas, Matilda, Lucy, Jack, Ben, Theo, Alex, James, Pippa, Eleanor, Fraser, India, and many more… 82

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Hilary Blake, Headmistress

Sacred Heart School, Wadhurst Independent Catholic mixed primary school for 3-11 It is a great privilege to work with young children and have the opportunity to influence and facilitate a child’s development. Within a primary school environment, the greatest accomplishments are very often those personal triumphs such as learning to read, to write, to perform in front of an audience, to multiply fractions, to recognise a subordinate clause, to succeed in an exam, win a competition or sports tournament. There are so many wow! moments within the school day and across the age groups which not only build confidence in a young learner but also develop empathy in their peer group. From a whole school perspective, we have much to celebrate across every area of the curriculum. We are highly competitive when it comes to sport and have a particularly skilful U11 team this year, winning the ISA London South Tag Rugby Cup, qualifying for the U11 Mixed Hockey Finals for the Sussex Partnership Schools and enjoying an undefeated season for the U11 Boys Football Team. Across the school, three of our boys are playing in Football Academy Squads. We have just concluded a very musical term celebrating the achievements of instrumentalists and vocalists throughout the school. Our pupils compete in the Tunbridge Wells Arts Festival each year, winning accolades and gaining confidence. They are no strangers to academic success, striving to be the best they can be in exams and competitions, including a silver medal winner in this year’s Primary Maths Challenge. The children raise awareness and funds through their charity work, most notably fundraising to purchase three defibrillators for public places through the British Heart Foundation Jump Rope for Heart initiative over recent years. Whether in the loud public moments or the quiet private successes, there is always something to celebrate in the day-to-day life and experience of a small primary school!

Craig McCarthy, Headmaster

Russell House School, Otford Independent prep school for girls and boys aged 2-11 The confident, capable children who leave us for grammar and independent schools when they reach 11 are always a source of genuine pride. Their achievements are the culmination of smaller, everyday milestones which we celebrate just as warmly; whether it’s grasping a new maths concept, scoring a first netball goal, or performing for an audience. That’s the benefit of being part of a school which promotes a friendly, caring atmosphere where staff know and appreciate the strengths, needs and successes of each individual child. We can measure our accomplishments in the remarkable achievements of our children across academic activities, music, sport and the arts; or in the way they blossom into considerate, engaged and motivated individuals under our care. We can measure accomplishments in the consistently outstanding results gained in the 11+ and independent school exams; or in the representation of our sports teams at regional and national competitions. But for me, our greatest accomplishment is that we achieve all this within a warm, friendly, family atmosphere and our children love coming to school. Happiness and the ability to enjoy the sheer thrill and excitement of learning is at the core of successful education.

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Julie Lodrick, Headmistress

Kent College, Pembury Independent boarding and day prep and senior school for girls aged 3-11 and 11-18 Our greatest accomplishment is the excellent academic results achieved by our girls in their 11+, GCSE and A Level examinations. Kent College girls learn without limits and, as such, consistently exceed expectations. Girls are inspired to cultivate a love of learning so that they grow in mind and spirit, and this stays with them long after they leave KC. We are enormously proud of the accomplishments of our former pupils who are achieving amazing success across a variety of careers and disciplines. Our commitment to the physical, spiritual and mental wellbeing of every girl lies at the heart of school life, and the programmes we have in place to deliver outstanding pastoral care within our supportive and kind community is an accomplishment we are truly passionate about. We are extremely proud of our reputation in providing strong pastoral care and at encouraging our girls to develop grit and resilience for life’s challenges. Our success in achieving the highest accolade of ‘excellent’ in every category in our 2016 ISI inspection demonstrates the hard work, expertise and accomplishment of all our staff. And lastly, developing our facilities over the last five years is another accomplishment we are proud of. Nestled amidst the Kent countryside, our 75acre site provides outstanding opportunity. In addition to their academic learning, girls can pursue their passions, whether that is playing hockey on our all-weather AstroTurf, performing in our state-of-the-art theatre, or getting lost in literature in our iconic Library and Arts Centre.

Do you have a question for our Heads? Email: editorial@badbettymedia.co.uk

Viewpoint Each issue, a local head teacher gives their opinion on an educational topic. Here, Antonia Beary, headmistress of Mayfield School, argues that expanding horizons beyond the core curriculum is a right, not an expensive luxury Education funding cuts are a hot topic at the moment. It seems that every time we look at the news, there are bleak headlines about the possibility of Grammar Schools introducing means-tested fees, and tough decisions being made about which subjects state schools can afford to offer, and which they are being forced to drop. Heads are having to focus on the core compulsory subjects, with resources being directed towards boosting league table results. Of course, literacy, numeracy and the sciences are vital, but with access to the creative and performing arts, languages and humanities becoming a lottery for many students across the country, we are on a dangerous path. Variety and choice within the curriculum is fundamental to providing a thorough and balanced education that expands a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s horizons and produces young people with the resilience, confidence and integrity to navigate the challenges they face in the modern world. At Mayfield School, we strongly believe in the benefits of studying a broad range of subjects. The humanities afford an opportunity for students to develop their own considered opinions on some of the most important areas of life, helping them to clarify their beliefs and values. Studying the humanities also teaches research and problem-solving skills, the capacity to summarise and critique texts, and the ability to clearly and creatively debate and present information â&#x20AC;&#x201C; skills that are extremely attractive to universities and employers, but should not be the sole reason for learning them. Ever-increasing globalisation amplifies the importance of studying languages. Proficiency in French, Spanish and the other modern languages opens the door to living and working abroad, and to a plethora of careers across all sectors in multinational companies where language skills are required. However, it is through literature and art that one really begins to comprehend another culture: insight into experiences and perspectives fosters understanding and tolerance. At Mayfield we believe the creative and performing arts have an extremely positive impact on physical and mental well-being, inspiring pupils and allowing them to use their imaginations while they take a break from their academic pursuits. Whether a student intends to pursue music, drama, textiles, ceramics or art as a career, or whether it is just for fun and relaxation, it is vital these subjects are available to students at secondary level, and that they are encouraged to take part. The benefits of singing, playing music or performing on stage (no matter how nerve-wracking it may seem initially) are vast, from boosting self-confidence to teaching the discipline that is required to learn lines or music. Commitment, attention to detail, critical analysis and patience are required to succeed. These skills are eminently transferable and cross-curricular KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

links between the arts and those subjects considered more traditionally academic are hugely valuable, not least in providing contextual detail and background information to enrich learning. A future in which these subjects are not available to pupils is an alarming one, and one that many parents in the state sector are increasingly facing. We want our girls to leave Mayfield with an excellent understanding of the past, not least in how that informs the skills they need to thrive in the future as a proactive member of a modern society. Abstract and creative intellectual curiosity is important, but must be tempered by understanding of and compassion for themselves and others. This is the educational experience that is a fundamental way of life to all of us at Mayfield. Mayfield School is a leading Catholic independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18. Antonia Beary is also currently Chair of CISC and Hon Sec of GSA. LOV E EDUC ATION

School report A round-up of what’s happening in the world of education

Golden girl Kent College pupil strikes gold in swimming championships Izzie Mercer, a Kent College Year 6 pupil, recently struck gold in the Kent County Swimming Championships, which were concluded in the Olympic pool at the London Aquatic Centre. Izzie competed in 11 events, over four weekends and won medals in every event, including two gold and two silver! Her finest hour was probably the 50M Butterfly event on Sunday, where her entry time meant that she swam in a heat against girls aged 14-16 who stood almost a foot taller than her. Izzie won the heat in 32.83 seconds and progressed to the final of her age group. The exciting final saw Izzie take the gold medal in a time of 32.61 seconds which currently ranks her as first in Kent, first in the South East region and 12th in the country. This rounded off a fantastic performance in the championships which saw Izzie setting automatic qualifying times for five events in the South East Regional Championships which will take place in Crawley this May.

Magical production The Mead School wins national drama competition for second year running The Mead School in Tunbridge Wells has won top prizes in the Independent Schools Association Drama Festival, which is held annually in both northern and southern venues in the UK. Schools can perform complete plays, extracts from full-length plays, musicals or original work. 86

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The Mead School’s Year 6 won the Oxford House Prize for Best Junior Production with their performance of an abridged version of Peter Pan. Mead student Amelia James, age 10, also won the Audrey Vowles Prize for Best Junior Girl Performer for her performance as Wendy. Mrs Angela Culley, Headmistress at The Mead School, said, “We are bursting with pride and excitement. This is an amazing achievement and I must congratulate each and every one of our Year 6 pupils for every person was vital to this success – they were a wonderful team which was a joy to see. “Special congratulations must go to Head of Performing Arts, Victoria Hall, for all her brilliant work producing Peter Pan, Debbie Latty for the amazing props, Lisa Biggs for the authentic and creative costumes and Heather Waight for her constant support and the hours she spent squeezing the story of Peter Pan into the designated half an hour – no mean feat!” The school was given some wonderful feedback from the Festival adjudicator Vivienne Cunningham including that the Year 6 performance was an extremely well-rehearsed production, the performance was imaginative, focussed and well-paced, that she loved the use of puppetry (Nana the dog) and that Hook was terrifying but handsome! Vivienne Cunningham added, “A high standard was achieved in all age groups with casts performing with confidence and a strong sense of team work. It is obvious that this Festival continues to thrive as a platform for young people to produce exciting drama.” KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

Born to dance Seeing Billy Elliot in the West End was the final push George Stevens needed to take up ballet – and now he’s at the prestigious White Lodge, studying ballet Ten-year-old George Stevens from Southborough has just been awarded the school placement of his dreams with The Royal Ballet at their world renowned White Lodge in Richmond Park. It is recognised as being one of the three leading dance schools in the world. Each year some 20,000 people apply to join The Royal Ballet, but only 12 places are available every year for boys. George’s parents Lorna and Geoff Stevens said: “George has always been a dancer and started dancing as soon as he could stand up. He has always loved all types of music and would regularly dance around the house singing to pop songs and chart music, but could often be found sitting alone, quietly listening to classical music, too.” George started dance training at six years old when he began learning Aerodance, moving on to study tap and modern. He loved all three forms of dance but also had an urge to dance ballet. Encouraged by his parents to try it, George refused because “boys don’t do ballet” and he “didn’t want to be picked on for being different to the other boys”. However, the urge to dance ballet remained with George for a further two years and he often spoke about his desire with his parents. Despite not attending lessons, George would regularly watch ballet on YouTube and various DVDs, so his parents took him to see a couple of live Royal Ballet performances including Swan Lake and Alice in Wonderland. It was after seeing Billy Elliot in the West End that George told his parents: “I want to do it.... I want to learn ballet”. He began lessons with Miss Tamara Moubayed at the Southborough School of Dance in September 2014 where they teach Legat Russian ballet. Miss Tamara soon recognised George’s natural abilities and advised Lorna and Geoff that George really should audition for The Royal Ballet Associates. George was put forward for an audition in May 2016 and secured a place at the Royal Ballet Associates in Covent Garden last September. George continued to attend both the Southborough School of Dance and The Royal Ballet Associates and was soon asked by The Royal Ballet to audition for a role in Sleeping Beauty, and secured a cover role in the production. George entered into the 2016 Tunbridge Wells Dance Festival and won a silver medal for his first-ever solo performance after only 18 months of ballet training. He also won a further medal in this year’s 2017 festival when he was in competition with other children who have been studying from as young as three and four years old. During the past year, George’s natural abilities and his experiences of winning medals have helped his confidence and self-belief to grow, so when the opportunity came to apply for a place at White Lodge, he knew that the chances of gaining a place were very slim, but he felt that it was worth giving it 100% effort. Lorna and Geoff said, “As parents, we obviously have mixed feelings about George moving away from home, but we are so incredibly proud of his achievements. It is also really important that George is allowed to follow his dreams so we are really overjoyed for him and will do anything possible to support him.” KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

Lorna and George have visited White Lodge on a couple of occasions and Lorna said: “White Lodge is such a beautiful historic home set within incredible surroundings. They have excellent facilities, teaching staff and carers so I can’t think of any better place for a young person to live, be educated and to be trained by the world’s leading ballet teachers.”

Kid’s corner Check out our sizzling summer togs and it will be sunny smiles all the way says Sally-Ann Carroll

Top row, left to right: Blue Beach dress, from £65 www.angels-face.co.uk Denim dungaree set, £10 www.asda.com Jolly Roger playsuit, £45 www.wildandgorgeous.co.uk Middle row, left to right: Yellow polo shirt, £16, shorts, £26, orange polo shirt, £20, and trousers, £30 www.jacadi.co.uk Bottom row, left to right: Print top, £16 www.marksandspencer.com Blue organic T-shirt with car motif, £9 www.polarnopyret.co.uk 88

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Pink stripe heart pocket dress, £24 www.polarnopyret.co.uk

Dolce & Gabanna pineapple print espadrilles, from £125 www.step2wo.com

Blue palm print T-shirt, from £7 www.next.co.uk

Blue skater shoes, from £13 www.next.co.uk

Yummy mummy corner Whether you’re a yummy mummy, a loving partner or a doting grandparent, this is for you...

Choo choo! Make way for fun and friendships with Hape’s Jungle Journey Train. Enjoy the adorable little animal illustrations with colour splashes of red, blue and green, to make play even more inviting. Start your journey today and watch, piece by piece, as you decide what adventure this little train takes you on. With a collection of different tracks to choose from, these furry friends are about to take on some of the toughest adventures. Price: £8 for a six-piece set www.debenhams.com

Get a room! My Beautiful Room: Interior Design Workbook by Jasmine Orchard and Olivia Whitworth is a new book for crafty and creative kids. The interior design activity workbook is filled with press-out furniture and accessories and a three-dimensional room set for kids to make and decorate in their own individual style. Guiding you through basic interior design theory, the workbook helps you apply your new-found skills with original drawing challenges and super-fun activities, including devising mood boards and creating floor plans. Then you can create a model of a stunning bedroom by drawing, colouring, decorating and cutting out furnishings to arrange on a stage-set style backdrop, creating a dream room model. Price: £9.99 www.amazon.co.uk

Let there be light This ceramic vintage train night light is full of vintage charm and will help your little one drift off into a peaceful sleep. The light is mains powered using LED lighting. Price: £95 www.babatude.com

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Alfresco nannies

Families going to the Alfresco Festival on 26th28th May in Tunbridge Wells can book their kids into the Nanny Yurt. Run by a small group of lovely nannies who aim to make big days out fun for the smallest people, they’ll be running craft sessions and kids clubs during the day, and a snuggle down session of stories and music in the evening, to let parents head out and catch the later bands! Sessions run from Friday through to Sunday: daytime craft from 1pm to 4.30pm (£35), and the babysitting tent from 8pm until midnight (£40). Spaces are limited to 10 children aged between 3-9 years, and fruit and water is provided throughout. Parents are asked to prebook so the nannies know exactly what ages are coming and can tailor each session to be the most fun for the children. There’s everything from children’s yoga, dress up, mask/headband making, face painting, shadow puppets, painting, music, stories and much more. Book through the website: www.nannyyurts.com

For the love of family How brothers Rob and Paul Forkan have created a successful business and charity in memory of their parents

Last October, Gandys fashion store, specialising in travel wear, opened in Tunbridge Wells. It was another big step in the lives of Rob and Paul Forkan, whose successful business has grown out of a family tragedy. In 2001, Kevin and Sandra Forkan took their four children – Rob, Paul and their younger brother Mattie and sister Rosie – out of their structured school system in England and enrolled them in what they believed was the best form of education; the university of life. The family embarked on a trip around the world that included volunteering with local charities in India. However on Boxing Day 2004, tragedy struck when Kevin and Sandra died in the devastating Tsunami that hit Sri Lanka. Rob and Paul, then aged 17 and 15 respectively, survived by clinging on to the roof of a building when the giant wave hit the coastline. Their parents had managed to get Mattie and Rosie to safety before being swept away. Rob and Paul’s parents had raised all four children with a powerful understanding of the world that only travelling can impart. This awakened in them the burning desire to create something unique in honour of their adventurous parents. So in 2012, Rob and Paul founded Gandys in order to support their Orphans for Orphans foundation by donating 10% of their profits to helping underprivileged children that are affected by the Tsunami. The company began with flip-flops but now boasts a travel fashion range and two stores. The brothers began their mission with the objective of opening 92

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a kid’s campus and their dreams came to life when their first Orphans for Orphans children’s home in Sri Lanka opened its doors on the 10-year anniversary of the Tsunami. Here, Rob, now 29, and Paul, 27, talk about their business and charities.

Tell us something about the tragedy that was the inspiration for your business.

After the Tsunami, we received a lot of help from less fortunate children out in Sri Lanka who had gone through exactly the same situation as us, some of whom had lost their parents too. This was the inspiration behind the brand – from our more fortunate context, we want to do all we can to help fellow orphans around the world by building Kids’ Campuses.

What did you intend for the business when you started it?

We have always wanted the business to grow and, in turn, generate as much funding as possible in order to build Kids’ Campuses all over the world.

Why did you start with flip flops?

We started with flip flops mostly because they were symbolic: they draw a strong association with India where everyone wears sandals and where we lived for four years while growing up. We basically grew up in flip flops while we were travelling around the world with our parents, so its significance harks back to our childhood. KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

What challenges did you face setting it up initially, and as you’ve grown the business?

Initially, funding was a huge issue as Paul and I put every penny we had into getting Gandys off the ground. Paul even slept on my sofa in the little flat in Brixton so we could save on rent! We also faced the challenge of being heard in the midst of all of the huge, well-established brands. After creative marketing strategies and research, however, we have managed to carve our way out to make Gandys the number one fashion destination for travellers of the world!

How many people work for Gandys now, and what set-up do you have?

There are just under 20 people working for us, including the people working in our stores. Our office is based in Southfields, our flagship store is in Spitalfields, London, and our other store is in Tunbridge Wells.

Do you have defined roles in the company?

As it’s such a small company, we each find ourselves doing about three different roles!

What made you decide to add a fashion range?

What’s been your proudest achievement?

How does that work? Who designs the items, and where do you get them made up?

Tell us about the Gandys Foundation

We decided to add a fashion range in order to make Gandys a year-round brand as opposed to a two-week a year business with just flip flops.

We introduced the fashion range gradually, from flip flops to swim shorts to round towels to sunglasses before moving on to clothing. Paul and I have a very strong input in the designing process as we aim to incorporate our unique, bohemian travelling upbringing into every item. The clothes are made in several different countries: the UK, Turkey, India etc. We have visited each factory to ensure their standards and regulations are up to scratch. We market them on our website and in our stores.

Our proudest achievement is really tough to choose, but it has probably been opening our first Kids’ Campus in Sri Lanka in 2014 and also opening our London store last summer. The Gandys Foundation supports our Orphans for Orphans initiative. It funds the construction and running of our Kids’ Campuses and also contributes towards other projects around Sri Lanka and India. So far, the Foundation has helped over 2000 children.

What’s planned for the future?

We hope to keep growing and plan to open our second Kids’ Campus in Malawi this year, as well as several other stores around the country, which is really exciting.

Ready, steady, startup Business coach Belinda Raitt has tips on launching your fledgling startup I’m a bit of a startup junkie. My own and other people’s. I love everything that they represent: hope, dreams, bright ideas, pioneering spirit, grit and determination. I love the hard work that goes into them, the total focus and absorption they demand, the rush of adrenalin as the start date draws closer. As a business coach, it’s immensely rewarding, seeing your clients’ hard work coming together, as they launch themselves onto the market, like frenzied little ducklings taking their first paddle. Some startups definitely take off better than others – so what makes one business succeed where another doesn’t? The idea, the timing, the people involved? With one of my clients about to launch, and another idea of my own in the pipeline, here’s what I’ve learnt over the years from my own experiences and from observing how other successful business owners have made it work.

Research

Who is your target market, and what do you know about them? Are you even sure there is a market for what you want to sell? There may be a reason it’s not out there already – not because someone else hasn’t already thought of it, but because they have, and they’ve done their research, and concluded this isn’t the right place, time or product. If you’re planning something that is already out there, get to know your competitors and who buys from them inside out, and then you’re in a better position to work out how to make your offering more attractive, or different enough to make sure you get your share of the market too. Find out about the community and environment around you, as well - are there any planned developments that will affect your business, for better or for worse? From my observations, the businesses that don’t take off are the ones that make too many assumptions without basing them on sufficient research or knowledge.

Business plan

Sure, you have to make some assumptions – a lot of the numbers on a business plan are just that, particularly if it’s a brand-new product or offering. But use your business plan to plan! Work out best case and worst case scenarios, and then aim for something roughly in the middle, depending on how much of an optimist you are. What some people seem to forget about a business plan, is it also serves as a budget to help you with your cashflow in the early days. Make sure you have thought about all the items you will need to spend money on in the first year and beyond. Add in everything, including legals, equipment and running costs, staff and marketing. Whatever you do, don’t forget to add a marketing budget – more on this below. Then add a bit more, just in case. And stick to it! Don’t be tempted to dip into the budget for one area if it will compromise another.

Strong brand

Put as much of your budget as you can into brand design and then marketing. It will give your business the easiest and best head start it can get. Too many businesses make the mistake of thinking they can do their own branding, web design and marketing. It’s a professional skill, just as any other, so pay for professionals.

Marketing

The amount of times I’ve seen a shop or a café throw open its doors and then just sit and wait, wondering why people aren’t flocking in astounds me. Just because you’ve been living and breathing this creation 24/7 for the past few months doesn’t mean that everyone else has. 94

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Customers will not know who, where or what you are, unless you tell them. Constantly, and clearly. Put yourself in their shoes. Firing out the odd post on social media to a bunch of followers who may not even be local or relevant is not going to be enough. That’s where the research and the business plan comes in – to help you work out how to grow your market share with new customers and how best to reach them, so that you can grow your business sustainably and profitably. I know from my own experience that your startup fund doesn’t always stretch as far as you’d like it to. That’s where hiring a professional can help as they can get you where you need to be faster and use their connections or creativity in ways that perhaps you could not. It’s about thinking laterally and creating opportunities.

People

It’s people who make a business; whether that’s customers, you, or the people you work with. People buy from people they like (and often, are like). They are also more inclined to buy from people they trust. So be yourself, and make sure you pick a team who can help you deliver to your style and standards. It’s also important to realise that you can’t do everything yourself, no matter how tight the budget is. You won’t be doing your business any favours if you are burnt out, and if you are stretched so thin that you can’t deliver on your business plan. So that goes back to doing your sums at the start, making sure you’ve budgeted for extra help, whether that’s hiring your own staff or outsourcing to others who are better qualified to take on certain jobs. It’s a trap many small business owners fall into – thinking that because they have come up with the idea, they have all the skills necessary to make it work. Not so. The two final ingredients that I think are a vital part of any startup, are to have fun along the way and to keep learning. Failure is not a negative, it’s a necessary part of any successful business. How you deal with that failure is what determines the outcome. Treat it as a learning opportunity, and you will create something even better from it. I can’t wait to see what that will be! Belinda qualified as a business, career and leadership coach in 2010. She has a Masters in Psycholog y from the University of Edinburgh and is a member of the Association for Coaching. She started the About Talent Group seven years ago after a career in London with an executive search firm. She loves helping people to realise their ideas via www.aboutstartups.co.uk, and has also set up several other ventures of her own, including www.execjobshare.com, a jobshare job board with another partner, and www.aboutsuccess.co.uk, an online membership club for people later in their careers who are looking for a change of direction or to return to work. KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

A Meal Ticket For Life? Sarah Haywood of solicitors ThomasHaywood looks at the thorny question of maintenance after a marriage has failed

Why should one party, normally the wife, suffer financial hardship as a result of a joint decision to be the homemaker? The husband’s career trajectory and earning capacity will have benefited throughout the marriage by his wife dealing with the minutiae of family life, such as school runs, holiday childcare, childhood illnesses, medical appointments etc, but the wife’s ability to support herself will have inevitably suffered. When the wife returns to work, initially needs dictate that her role is part time so she can still collect the children from school. These jobs are rarely well paid. On the other hand, why should parties that are divorced be bound together long after the marriage has ended and the children left home? Until recently, a joint lives maintenance order was the norm. This meant a wife’s needs would be assessed and the husband ordered to pay maintenance to help meet those needs if the wife could not be self-sufficient on her own income. The court has a duty to achieve a clean break, if possible, but in the average case, some support is usually needed. However, the case of SS v NS (spousal maintenance) [2014] has brought about a move towards independence. The court said the award should only “alleviate significant hardship” and “standard of living is relevant but not decisive”. Since then, wives have been told to “get a job”. Suddenly, women who, by agreement, had been the homemaker to enable their husbands to be the breadwinner were finding themselves struggling to cope on the minimum wage whilst their former spouses continued their life of luxury. This might however be about to change. Lord Wilson, one of the country’s most senior judges, has said it is unrealistic for older wives to be left “to fend for themselves”. Baroness Deech, a cross-bench peer, has tabled a private member’s bill calling for a three-year cap on most maintenance payments. This would bring England and Wales in line with Scotland. The bill has passed its second reading in the House of Lords. KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

In an interview, Baroness Deech said: “Our judges are being very old-fashioned I’m afraid. They are overchivalrous and the way they were in the 19th century. People wonder why, 15 years after a marriage has ended, one person has to keep paying money to another.” In a speech to students at the University of Bristol, Lord Wilson said that “would-be reformers lack experience. I suspect that they believe too readily what they read in the papers and that they regard the exceptional cases as the norm. This leads them to exaggerate the difficulties of the current system and to ignore the virtue of principles which have a sufficient degree of elasticity to enable a reasonable result to be fitted to each case.” If the judiciary cannot decide the best way forward then we still have no answer to the question raised in the title. Each case must be determined on its own merits. www.thomashaywoodsolicitors.com LOV E BUSINESS

Helping hand A round-up of local charity news Shine on

Parents make record-breaking donation to spina bifida charity Russell House parents have made a record-breaking donation to Shine. They presented a cheque for £9,000 to the charity which supports individuals living with spina bifida or hydrocephalus and their families, friends and professionals. The money was raised at the Russell House Parents Association’s Phantom Masquerade Ball, attended by more than 150 Russell House parents, staff, friends and family. Naomi Marston, Shine’s SDW Manager and Services Coordinator, said: “To have raised so much money is an incredible achievement, and is the largest amount ever raised by a single school fundraiser. The £9,000 will go a long way towards supporting children and adults with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, two complex, life-limiting conditions.” Emma Boyes, head of the Parents Association Ball Committee, said: “We chose to support Shine because we wanted to assist them with their extraordinary work, which fosters a greater understanding of spina bifida and hydrocephalus. A former pupil of Russell House School has spina bifida, so it is a cause very close to our hearts.”

Photo credit: SportCam.net

Runners raise money for local charities Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon is a race with a purpose More than 1,500 runners took part in the Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon recently, with the starter’s gun fired by Kent’s 365 Marathon Man, running his 302nd marathon in consecutive days. The race was won by James Conner from Kent AC in a time of one hour, eight minutes and 50 seconds, nearly a minute and a half ahead of second placed Dean Lacy of Cambridge Harriers. The fastest woman was Maria Heslop of Paddock Wood Athletics Club, who made it across the line in one hour, 22 minutes and 29 seconds. The race was started by Ben Rogers of West Malling (365 Marathon Man) who was running his 302nd marathon in as many 96

LOV E CH ARIT Y

Image: Naomi Marston from Shine receives the record-breaking cheque from Russell House parents Judith Hurst, Emma Boyes and Kristina Pappa. Also pictured are Russell House governor Yvonne Lindsay and Headmaster Craig McCarthy.

days. He ran the course in reverse, started the race, then ran the distance again to complete his marathon for the day. Among the 1,523 runners were 65 aged 60 or more, with nine of the finishers aged 70 and over. The first of these across the line was David Winch of Thanet Roadrunners AC, in an impressive time of one hour, 33 minutes and three seconds, while the only veteran in the 80+ category, Graham Brooks of Tunbridge Wells Harriers, managed two hours, 37 minutes and 33 seconds. The last runner finished in three hours, 31 minutes. Organised by the Tunbridge Wells Harriers, the Tunbridge Wells race is recognised as one of the best in the country, with a picturesque course through the Kent Weald. “It’s a lot of hard work by the Harriers to pull it off, but it helps put Tunbridge Wells on the sporting map, attracting runners from around the country,” said Race Director Mark Taylor. “We had some great performances from club runners, as well as a lot of first-time runners – it was fantastic to see them achieving their personal goal of completing a half marathon.” All entrants received an official race technical running T-shirt, a medal and a goodie bag. Headline sponsors Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells provided support before and after the event, with numbers and official race T-shirts collected from the Fitness and Wellbeing Gym on Knights Park Leisure Park. Nuffield Health’s personal trainers led the official race warmup and ran stretch sessions afterwards, with the Hospital’s physiotherapists providing massages to ease sore muscles. In addition to offering a stunning course for runners of all abilities, the race also raises money for charity. The main beneficiaries this year were The Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, Tunbridge Wells Counselling Centre and The Bridge Trust. KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017

Walk of hope

Mother of ellenor’s young patient marks her birthday by taking part in Walkathon Among those taking part in this year’s Walkathon for ellenor – a marathon 26-mile walk from Tower Bridge to ellenor Gravesend – is Louise Jenner from Snodland, mother of one of the hospice charity’s young patients, Sophie. Apart from wishing to raise vital funds for ellenor, the charity’s Walkathon this year is on Sunday, 2nd July – which happens to be Sophie’s 11th birthday – gives Louise a very special reason to take part in the challenge. When Sophie was born, her parents knew straightaway that something wasn’t right. “Her tiny body was floppy; she didn’t cry and barely woke for food,” remembers Louise. Then Sophie began having seizures and had to be put on a ventilator in intensive care. At just 10 days old, her parents – Louise and Danny – were given the devastating news that their baby girl had non-ketotic hyperglycinemia, a rare and incurable metabolic condition that meant it was unlikely she’d reach adulthood. “When we found out how serious her condition was, we were in shock,” says Louise. “There was nothing that we could do to make her better. Our only heartbreaking option was to turn off the ventilator. But our little fighter defied the odds.” Sophie can’t communicate and has several seizures every day. “As parents, we just have to try and keep her as comfortable and seizure-free as we can,” says Louise. “With the help of ellenor, this is possible. Our ellenor nurse is always at the end of the phone and has been brilliant in helping us to arrange specialist appointments and transport when needed.”

Louise says that when Sophie is unwell, she calls ellenor, which often prevents a visit to hospital. “ellenor nurses give me the reassurance and confidence that I am giving Sophie the best possible care,” says Louise. ellenor’s Walkathon sees participants walking from the centre of London back to Gravesend, with a number of marshalled points inbetween. Louise is doing the walk with her good friend Stephanie Fincham, and they are hoping that Sophie can join them in her wheelchair for the last mile or so. “I wanted to do something to support ellenor – the amazing charity that has given our family so much – and, as the Walkathon is taking place on Sophie’s birthday, it seemed the perfect thing to do,” says Louise. “Every year, we try to have a big celebration of her birthday, as it’s another year that we have been fortunate enough to have her here with us. We believe ellenor has helped us to keep her as healthy as possible to give us that opportunity.” If you’d like to join Louise on this year’s Walkathon for ellenor, visit: www.ellenor.org

Man’s best

friend

A new dog assistance programme is helping diabetics to gain confidence and manage their condition

Brittle diabetes is rare but serious. Around 3 in 1,000 people with type 1 diabetes mellitus will develop brittle diabetes, which is particularly hard to control. But a new Kent-based assistance programme is helping children and adults with this type of diabetes to manage their condition with the help of their pet dog. Many dogs have the potential to become a diabetic alert dog. These very special dogs have such sensitive noses that they can detect a rise or fall in their owners’ blood sugars. By alerting their owners or their families to these changes in blood sugars, diabetic alert dogs can prevent potentially life-threatening hypoglycaemic attacks. These are known as hypos and result from low blood sugar levels. Diabetic alert dogs can also detect potential episodes of hyperglycaemia (known as hypers) when blood sugar levels are too high. Tenterden-based Hypo Hounds was set up by Jane Pearman last year after her teenage diabetic daughter Sophie was helped to manage her condition by her own assistance dog, Scooby. Jane trained Scooby to be a diabetes alert dog and they eventually made it to the finals of the Eukanuba Friends for Life contest at Crufts, for pets which support their owners. Jane said: “After Crufts we had lots of phone calls from people asking to help them train their dogs and Hypo Hounds launched from there. “We are an owner-based assistance dog programme training your pet dog to save your life. We don’t provide the dogs – you must already have a dog under four years old and have taken it to Kennel club classes and attained gold level before the official scent work takes place.” So does every pet dog have the ability to become a diabetic alert dog? “We all know that dogs have a fantastic sense of smell,” says Jane, “but there are some breeds that are better than others. Gun dogs are the best, but having said that, we have a Staffie puppy on our books that is doing a fantastic job. “Your dog has to have not only an amazing sense of smell but also the right temperament to be an assistance dog. And the owners must also be prepared to put in the hard work to assist with the training. The dogs have to undergo 120 hours of specialist training and then scent training on top of that. Dogs usually qualify at around two years of age if we have supported them from a puppy. However, every dog is different.

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Photo credit: Jamie Morgan Hound Dog Photography “All our training is done by Home Office approved and qualified scent trainers, who are retired police dog trainers. Not only do they have extensive knowledge and qualifications which is unique to them and us, they also understand the importance of the working relationship between human and dog. “We have nine dogs in training currently and one fully qualified, all alerting to their owners. That’s potentially 10 lives saved in 2016 alone!” Comedian Joe Pasquale and actor Robin Ellis, famous for his role as the original Captain Ross Poldark on BBC TV in the 1970s, are both Hypo Hounds ambassadors. Says Joe: “Hypo Hounds is doing fantastic work in the Kent community, training dogs to save the lives of people living with diabetes. When I was asked to be an ambassador and help raise awareness of both diabetes and Hypo Hounds I was truly touched and honoured.” Talking about his own personal experience of diabetes, Robin Ellis said: “My mother had Type 1 diabetes and I witnessed her struggles with hypos which often happened while she slept at night. My father would miraculously awaken and be forced to call the ambulance and rush Molly to the hospital. If she’d had a dog trained to alert her, many traumatic events might have been avoided. Her struggle informed my own reaction to Type 2 diabetes, when I was diagnosed in my 50s.” He now devotes some of his time to assisting others with Type 2 diabetes (and those trying to avoid it) and is the author of three cookbooks on how to eat well with diabetes. He is a firm believer that people living with diabetes can still enjoy delicious meals that are also healthy. He says: “I am delighted to support this outstanding venture to enlist the help of our dear canine companions to further support those with the most dangerous forms of diabetes. These dogs clearly bring great companionship, confidence and vital life-saving assistance to their owners.” If you would like more information or to support Hypo Hounds, visit www.hypohounds.co.uk KUDOS M AY/JUNE 2017